A team of researchers at South China Normal University in Guangzhou, recently investigated the brain's response to different types of music. The team was led under the direction of Ping Huang and the findings were published online in the online journal PLOS One. They found that there are fundamental differences when it comes to the response patterns in the brain that arise when we listen to different types of music.
The study included 18 men that were from 18 to 24 years in age. All of the participants had previously engaged in some level of musical activity or training, though none were at the professional level. Participants listened to both excerpts from pop songs and classical opera music. The participants were placed in an fMRI machine where they then listened to various clips of either pop or classical music.
The researchers found that there were different responses depending on the type of music. The sub-cortial region of the brain for example, was seen to be much more sensitive to pop music. And also seen was that cognitive empathy regions in the brain responded more to artistic music than they did when pop music was played.
Researchers say that artistic music (like opera) requires intellectual engagement, whereas pop music is often more emotional in response. Not only does our mind respond differently to the different types of music, but there are also claims that have been made that listening to classical music might even be able to help to improve memory. It's also said that classical music can help to enhance the activity of genes which are involved in numerous brain functions; dopamine secretion, learning, synaptic neurotransmission, and more.
Their finding from the current study further strengthen the notion that our response to artistic music is going to be much richer than a simple emotional or physiological reaction like that often experienced when we hear one of our favorite pop songs. Researchers admit that the study should be replicated again, with more participants in the future. And in order to further understand the response to different music, other types of music should be included in the investigation.
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sources:
https://psmag.com/why-our-brains-respond-differently-to-classical-music-efbce4f3a1e2#.paklqo64e
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3112339/How-listening-Mozart-boost-memory-Classical-composer-s-music-linked-increase-brain-wave-activity-beats-Beethoven.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150313083410.htm
http://slippedisc.com/2016/11/new-research-pop-triggers-physical-response-classical-music-cerebral/
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165377
http://www.universityherald.com/articles/50614/20161119/latest-academic-research-compares-pop-and-classical-music-s-effect-to-the-brain-video.htm