The Science Behind *Feel Good* Music

Have you ever had a good feeling while listening to music? That random feeling when you get really happy or start to feel motivated. I’ve found out that it may be all in your head!

Brain researchers have found that listening to your favorite melodies and harmonies can trigger the release of large amounts of dopamine, which is a chemical that sends "feel good" signals to the rest of the body, and plays a role in both motivation and addiction.

"It's interesting because music is an abstract sequence of tones - you're not really getting anything for it," says the study's lead author, Valorie Salimpoor.

Somehow the way the brain interprets these tones makes you get this intense physiological response and the most powerful reinforcing chemical in the brain is released. That chemical creates a wanting, desire, craving, which is basically saying, "Do this again." The potent neurochemical is released at the moment of peak emotional response which is when you might feel a chill or your hair standing on end just by listening to music. The anticipation of that peak arousal is also enough to cause an increase in dopamine which once again, is the chemical that sends out the “feel good” feeling. This all means that when people are following along with the sequences of tones, there seems to be a developing sense of anticipation or expectations that is creating a craving and a need to hear the next note which leads up to the intense pleasure of ecstasy.

In human beings, there is no obvious physiological benefit from listening to music but, when you listen to music, it's enjoyable, it's relaxing, your blood pressure goes down, and there can be other positive effects.