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The Tidldibab  is a 60,000-year-old Neanderthal flute. Carved from a cave bear femur, it was discovered in Slovenia in 1995, and is emblematic of the ubiquity of music in human societies. Its precisely spaced holes suggest that Neanderthals were not just capable of producing sound, but of creating music – long before the invention of written language. Music has served as a tool for social bonding, cultural preservation through oral tradition, and the communication of social a

For some people, music isn’t just sound, it is color. This phenomenon, known as chromesthesia, is a striking form of musical synesthesia in which sounds automatically evoke vivid visual experiences. Synesthesia, in general, is a neurological condition where stimulation of one sense triggers another. Musical synesthesia can take many forms—for instance, auditory-tactile synesthesia, where music produces sensations on the skin, or spatial-sequence synesthesia, where music seems

The corpus callosum is the largest white matter structure in the brain, consisting of a dense bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres. It plays a crucial role in enabling communication between both sides of the brain, allowing for coordinated motor control, sensory integration, and cognitive function. Because musical performance demands a high degree of bimanual coordination and interhemispheric communication, researchers have long hypothesized tha

Music is often praised as “good for the brain,” but how much of what we hear is actually true? As someone who’s passionate about both...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and emotional challenges that eventually interfere with daily life and relationships. It currently affects millions worldwide, and effective pharmaceutical treatments remain limited. Amid growing concerns about these limitations, music therapy—a clinical approach led by trained professionals that uses music to improve emotional, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes—i

Energy, adrenaline, fear, relief. Then it all starts over again. Performing music isn’t like a regular practice session or workout. It’s a cycle of intense emotions that pushes you far beyond just playing notes correctly. Recently, I watched an interview with competitors from the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. These are some of the best pianists in the world, yet they openly shared how overwhelming their pre-performance nerves were. One competitor said he couldn

Playing piano and clarinet at the nursing home was one of those experiences that quietly stays with you. Our music director had impressed on us the importance of the work we were doing, but I had not yet understood. Walking in, I knew the residents were older and many were dealing with illnesses, but I don’t think I fully expected the atmosphere to feel as heavy as it did. A lot of people seemed tired or distant, like they were caught somewhere between discomfort and just tr

It’s no secret that musicians often practice for hours each day, pushing themselves in new ways to hone their craft. However, effective practice isn’t just about sitting down and playing repeatedly. Successful practice sessions use strategies grounded in neuroscience to improve playing as efficiently as possible. When asked why it’s important for musicians to understand what’s happening in their brains during practice, a musician and expert in the neuroscience of practice, Mo

Across cultures and throughout history, music has played a central role in social rituals, group identity, and emotional expression. Because of this, it’s increasingly recognized that music offers real social benefits. A growing body of research shows that music can powerfully encourage prosocial behavior—the impulse to help, share, and cooperate with others. One research paper (Kim 2025) argues that music’s primary evolutionary purpose is to strengthen social bonds. Drawing

Gray matter, which constitutes about 40% of the brain, is responsible for processing information, controlling movement, and managing memory. It is primarily found in the outermost layer of the brain, the cerebral cortex, as well as in deeper areas of the brain. Gray matter consists mainly of neuronal cell bodies, which contain the nucleus and organelles, as well as dendrites and axons that facilitate communication between neurons. A study by researchers from Harvard Medical S