Music triggers the same pleasure receptors as food and sex

A recent study explains why we love music so much.

Music has been deemed for ages as the universal language with the power to lift, inspire and move.

The scientific and psychological reasoning behind this lies in how our brains process music. Unlike other sound stimuli, music affects the regions of your brain which control movement, motor planning, attention and the auditory cortex. This is why a great set or song can motivate you to work or exercise more efficiently and with more energy.

Furthermore, music strongly triggers your brain striatum by releasing large amounts of dopamine into your body, the same way food and sex does. The 'feel good' chemical is set off with the anticipation and peak of your favorite song.

To your brain and body, music is a pleasure. It elevates your mood and plays a key part in perceiving other people in a positive light - which is why you are more likely to create bonds with strangers at a concert, as opposed to a stranger on the street or in an unfamiliar setting.

If that wasn't enough, music can also make you smarter - playing an instrument has been proven to increase your cognitive and thinking abilities.

Watch the video below.

[Via: Dancing Astronaut]

Sydney is Mixmag's US Digital Content Editor. Follow her on Twitter here