Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain

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Published 2016-09-06

There are a range of human reactions to music: from indifference to rapture, from ΓÇ£amusiaΓÇ¥ (the inability to recognize certain aspects of music) to a synesthetic response that imbues every musical note with its own color and taste. Our sensitivities to music can become dangerous-whether is from songs we simply canΓÇÖt get out of our heads or the non stop musical hallucinations a surprising number of us experience night and day. Yet far more frequently, music goes right: it can help people with ParkinsonΓÇÖs disease who cannot otherwise move, give words to stroke patients who cannot otherwise speak, and organize peopleΓÇÖs memories who suffer from AlzheimerΓÇÖs or amnesia. It is clear that music has a unique power to alter the brain in remarkable and complex ways, and in ways we are only beginning to understand.

All Comments (14)

@CatherineSTodd 4 years ago

Oh, how I wish I could have met Dr. Sacks before he passed on to conduct that great Syphony in the Sky! What a wonderful man he was, and such a poet with his words!
@Papin47 4 years ago

A Brilliant human being on many levels. RIP Dr Sacks. Thanks to technology you will continue to share your knowledge and wisdoms in perpetuity. No question about the teleology of your time on this physical plane.
@OU812cheeto 7 months ago

This man is such a delight! I've learned so much from him. RIP Dr. Sacks.
@Psycandy 3 months ago

Oliver Sacks was a gift to humanity. Some may recall or know the movie 'Awakenings' (1990) (and also 'Rain Man' from '88) was based on Dr. Sack's work
@annaglaza1089 6 months ago

Dr Sacks spoke about his patients with such a passion , those lectures are real treasure ❤
@edwardwilliams2438 9 months ago

A truly Stellar mind...and to watch and listen to Dr. Sacks is just a revelation. A simply beautiful vessel...all that energy and insight wrapped in a very sweet package. Sorry to hear that he has passed on to the great beyond....what a loss.
@CatherineSTodd 4 years ago

"The brains of musicians and musically trained people are different from those of non-trained people." Starts at 7:51
@susydyson1750 1 year ago

Fascinating ! Every child should listen to music everyday… and parents alert to see if they suffer a deficiency of any kind
@lizgichora6472 3 months ago

Thank you very much: Music, language and the brain.
@roisin252 6 months ago

Love it!
@nadabajic1570 1 year ago

Brilliant lecture, brilliant lecturer. Inspirational physitian.
@quotesofaeon9408 5 years ago

Thank you very much.
@mariekatherine5238 3 years ago

My ex-brother-in-law had no musical sense, whatsoever. He didn’t like listening to music, was tone deaf, could not keep a rhythm. To him, it was just annoying noise! He is the only person I’ve ever met whom I’d consider truly amusical. I get the horror of a tone deaf cantor. We used to have a tone deaf, arhythmic organist who pounded out high mass. The priest was a kindly gentleman who hadn’t the heart to stop her. How do you tell an old lady volunteer to cease and desist? It was dealt with in the usual Catholic manner. “Offer it up!” Fortunately, it didn’t cause me to lose my religion. But I make a point to attend high Mass in a church large enough to have a paid choir.