TV documentary explores the power of music

The More4 TV programme ‘What makes a masterpiece’, shown last night, explored the amazing effects of music on the brain.

More4 presenter, Matthew Cain, examined the science behind writing a musical hit and how scientific analysis could show that the human brain responded more positively to certain cords and rhythms.

The program visited scientists researching into the effects of rhythm on social behaviour. During one experiment they monitored the behaviour of a group of people dancing together. The dancers all wore headphones and half the group danced to one track and the other danced to another track with a contrasting rhythm. Although none of the dancers knew which track anyone else was listening to, researchers found that the dancers tended to gravitate towards those who were dancing to the same piece if music. The scientists believe this is because on a primitive level we communicate with each through rhythm and group synchronising of body movements to a beat is a deep seated and reassuring form of social bonding.

The programme also showed how scientists were finding that different types of music had wide ranging effects on the human brain, from effecting mood to even changing the temperature of our skin!

To find out more about this episode or other More4 programmes visit the Channel 4 website.