Notes and Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus

Is our response to music hard-wired or culturally determined? Is the reaction to rhythm and melody universal or influenced by environment? John Schaefer, scientist Daniel Levitin, and musical artist Bobby McFerrin engage in live performances and cross-cultural demonstrations to illustrate music’s noteworthy interaction with the brain and our emotions. The World Science Festival gathers great minds in science and the arts to produce live and digital content that allows a broad general audience to engage with scientific discoveries. Our mission is to cultivate a general public informed by science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for all the latest from WSF. Visit our Website: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on twitter: Original Program Date: June 12, 2009 MODERATOR: John Schaefer PARTICIPANTS: Bobby McFerrin, Daniel Levitin, Jamshed Bharucha, Lawrence Parsons Bobby McFerrin’s Musical Introduction. 00:00 Participant introductions. 12:40 Why does neuroscience want to study music? 14:53 How does the brain fit into understanding music? 18:29 Is music the same if you already know what to expect? 26:33 Pitch, rhythm and timbre. 32:20 Is rhythm different across cultures? 38:55 Comparing musical predictions across cultures. 45:00 Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic? 58:54 Is music apart of speech? 1:04:10 Can we get two volunteers? 1:14:36 Testing galvanic skin response. 1:17:15 A musical performance from Bobby McFerrin. 1:38:04