Music gives energy and reduces pain. When we run, it helps us reduce anxiety, contributes to our good mood and calms us.

The roots of the art of music can be traced back to prehistoric times. In Europe, archaeologists have discovered flutes made of bone and ivory dating back 40,000 years. But this deep connection with music does not mean that everyone is able to appreciate it. Although their hearing is normal and they enjoy many other experiences, some people say that musical works bring them absolutely nothing.

For a long time, studies devoted to this phenomenon were based on the principle of general sensitivity. Until now, it was believed that the ability to feel pleasure applied equally to all types of stimuli. But about ten years ago, a team of scientists challenged this idea, discovering a rare disorder - “specific musical anhedonia”.

The researchers focused on people who dislike music but still appreciate other stimuli. A team from the University of Barcelona recently uncovered the mechanism behind these individual differences in sensitivity to music. The results of this study were published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

“Musical anhedonia is caused by a poor connection between the brain’s auditory network and its reward system. This broken connection prevents music from triggering the reward systems that are necessary for our pleasure. Studying these circuits could open the way for new studies of individual differences and reward-related disorders, such as addiction or eating disorders,” said Josep Marco-Palares, co-author of the study.

How do we know if someone suffers from musical anhedonia? The researchers developed a questionnaire that measures several ways in which people interact with music: how it evokes emotions, how it affects mood and social connections, whether listening to music encourages dancing or movement, and whether the listener seeks new experiences. Affected individuals tend to score low on all of these dimensions.

Scientists still don't know the reasons why this condition develops. They believe genetics and environment play a significant role. About 5% of cases are congenital. The disease can also be acquired through brain damage. It affects between 3% and 5% of the world's population. | BGNES