7 Spooky Things Music Does To Your Brain

Music is everywhere—it’s in our earbuds, blasting in our cars, and filling the quiet moments of our lives. But have you ever stopped to wonder what music actually does to your brain? It’s not just entertainment; it’s a force that can inspire, heal, and even mess with your senses in the spookiest ways. Today we’re diving into “7 Spooky Things Music Does to Your Brain.” Get ready to discover the eerie science behind those goosebumps, your favorite tunes, and even how music can alter time and memory. Let’s get started!

1. Musical Goosebumps

Do you ever feel a jolt of electricity when a singer nails a high note? This strange sensation is known by many names—some call it “frisson,” others refer to it as “the chills,” but most people simply call it “goosebumps.”

It feels like a small shock because it actually is! When you hear something that takes your breath away, your brain releases powerful chemicals. These chemicals increase your heart rate, raise your body temperature, and make your skin more conductive to electricity. As a result, tiny muscles at the base of each hair on your skin contract, giving your skin that classic bumpy look.

Interestingly, goosebumps are often associated with fear, stress, or cold. However, musical goosebumps come from a purely emotional place. When something moves or amazes you, your nervous system sends out electrical signals, making your hair stand on end.

Not everyone experiences musical goosebumps, though. A 2016 study found that people who do tend to have more developed auditory and prefrontal cortexes. So, if your favorite songs give you the chills, you might have a deeper connection with music than most people.

2. Activating the Pleasure System

Why do we fall in love with music? Think about the last time you played a song on repeat or sang along at the top of your lungs. Music makes us feel powerful, energetic, and inspired.

A study from 2017 discovered that your favorite songs activate the same part of the brain as addictive substances. This area, known as the nucleus accumbens—or "the neck"—is your brain’s main pleasure center. It controls motivation, rewards, and reinforcement learning.

When you achieve something great, like acing a test, your brain floods your body with feel-good hormones like dopamine. Music triggers the same effect, making you feel euphoric.

In experiments, researchers found that blocking opioid receptors in the brain caused people to lose enjoyment of their favorite songs. While music isn’t technically an addictive substance, it can create a craving for those emotional highs.

3. Altering Your Sense of Time

The right music can manipulate the way you perceive time. Think back to the last time you were on hold or waiting in line. You likely heard some forgettable background music—a mix of soft piano, strings, or tropical bongos.

This genre, often referred to as “elevator music,” dates back to the early 1900s when composer Erik Satie created intentionally forgettable songs called “furniture music.” The purpose? To fill the silence without drawing attention.

Silence can feel unsettling, even awkward. Background music soothes that discomfort, lifting your mood with cheerful melodies. It can even subtly distract you, making time seem to pass more quickly. That’s why businesses use it to enhance the shopping experience.

4. Enhancing Taste

In 2012, researchers discovered that music can enhance how you perceive taste. In a study, participants drank different types of wine while listening to various genres of music. Surprisingly, they enjoyed the wine more when it was paired with a song that matched its mood.

This phenomenon is called cognitive priming. One stimulus, like music, affects how you respond to another, such as taste. For example, mellow music paired with chamomile tea can make the drink feel even more relaxing. Conversely, heavy metal might ruin that calming vibe!

5. Defusing Pain

Your workout playlist doesn’t just pump you up—it increases your pain tolerance. Music is one of the world’s most common forms of pain relief.

Unlike medication, music doesn’t directly heal your body. Instead, it distracts your brain by triggering powerful emotional responses. Feel-good hormones replace stress and negativity, making you feel stronger and more motivated.

For example, music helps people endure intense workouts or even post-surgery recovery. A 2011 study found that patients who listened to music needed less pain medication, especially those with high anxiety.

6. Recovering Memories

Music has the incredible ability to unlock forgotten memories. Songs often carry strong emotional ties, reminding us of friendships, childhood moments, or even painful experiences.

For people with Alzheimer’s disease, music serves as a powerful therapeutic tool. While this condition erases cognitive functions like memory and reasoning, music can bring buried emotions to the surface. It’s not a cure, but it offers comfort and relief by connecting patients to their past.

7. Rerouting Language

Music can even help people with language disorders like aphasia. This condition makes it difficult to speak or understand words. However, by singing instead of talking, people can express themselves more easily.

This technique, called melodic intonation therapy, uses the creative parts of the brain to bypass damaged areas. Singing reroutes language signals, giving individuals a new way to communicate.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it—7 fascinating and, let’s be honest, spooky ways music affects your brain. From giving you goosebumps to helping people recover lost memories, music is more powerful than we often realize. So the next time you hit play, remember—you’re not just listening to a song; you’re rewiring your brain in ways science is still uncovering.