New Hypothesis Proposes Brainwaves Align with Music We Can’t Stop Listening To
Have you ever experienced a song that seemed to soothe a craving deep within your mind? A recent theory indicates that this sensation may be more tangible than figurative. This theory suggests that our bodies could experience a physical response to music, aligning brain waves with musical patterns, such as rhythm and pitch.
Regarded by many as a global language, music triggers similar responses globally. Some reactions appear to be nearly instinctive, regardless of cultural background. So what qualities of music contribute to its universal nature?
The neural resonance theory, introduced in a [perspective paper](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41583-025-00915-4) by Caroline Palmer from McGill University and her co-authors, proposes that humans are drawn to musical patterns because they harmonize with the brain’s resonant patterns. “This theory suggests that music’s potency lies not just in hearing it, but in how our brains and bodies embody it,” Palmer states. “This has significant implications for therapy, education, and technology.”
The paper examines existing research on musical neuroscience and articulates the neural resonance theory, or NRT. A fundamental aspect of NRT is that brain neural oscillations synchronize with external sounds at varying rates. Different regions of the brain function at distinct frequencies on a timescale. These frequencies align with various musical components.
For instance, cortical neurons oscillate at frequencies nearer to the slower end of the spectrum. Those frequencies align with our concept of rhythm, characterized by clear, recurring beats. Other cortical oscillations occur at higher frequencies. These gamma-frequency oscillations align more closely with musical pitch, situated within frequencies ranging from 30 to over 40,000 Hertz. Generally, gamma frequency oscillations in the cortex align with the lower frequencies of this range, while the brain stem, cochlea, and auditory nerve resonate with pitches at the upper spectrum.
Therefore, to address what renders music so universal, the paper’s authors conclude: “Statistically universal structures may have emerged in music as they correspond to stable states of intricate, pattern-creating dynamic systems.”
While there may indeed be a biological rationale for music’s global appeal, there’s still a case for appreciation and discernment that is learned. Some intricate features of music, such as meter, may be influenced more by culture. It is believed that the brain cultivates a preference for these learned inclinations regarding sophisticated musical structures, a concept termed “attunement” in the paper.
This pioneering paper also starts to clarify other intriguing phenomena, like why some genres inspire more dancing than others. What the authors termed as “groove” is associated with nonlinear resonance. Nonlinear resonance occurs when a beat fails to adhere to a predictable or brain-coherent pulse, necessitating the brain to bridge those gaps.
A slight disjunction led to “high groove ratings,” while excessive or insufficient disjunction disrupted the groove factor. Unsurprisingly, pop music struck this perfect balance. Thus, next time a tune lingers in your mind or resonates particularly well, you can credit neural resonance theory for harmonizing your brain appropriately.
## A novel theory proposed by researchers elucidates why certain music resonates differently in our brains compared to others.
## Neural resonance theory, or NRT, posits that musical patterns appeal to humans as they resonate with the brain’s resonant patterns.
## Various brain regions operate at different frequencies. These oscillations correlate with different musical elements, such as rhythm, pitch, and pulse.
## Other musical elements like meter are more intricate and likely influenced by culture, yet, on some level, the universal attraction to music is indeed somewhat rooted in biology.
#### _Source: [Musical neurodynamics](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41583-025-00915-4)_
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