Most research regarding the impact of music on the brain hinges on the constraints of hegemonic definitions and Western music traditions. As an example, the Predictive Coding of Music (PCM) model proposes three music domains for neuroscientific measurement: melody, rhythm, and harmony (Vuust et al., 2022). However, the concept of harmony does not exist across all music (Savage & Fujii, 2022). If research excludes some music traditions, what positive brain health impact are we overlooking?
This in turn raises the question: Could the impact of diverse music enculturation on the brain be analogous to the important role of diverse gut bacteria the body?
Through a broader musicological, and ethnomusicological framework, a diverse music enculturation presents interesting possibilities.
References:
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2. Savage PE, Fujii S. Towards a cross-cultural framework for predictive coding of music. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2022;23(10):641. doi:10.1038/s41583-022-00622-4
4. Stobbe E, Sundermann J, Ascone L, Kühn S. Birdsongs alleviate anxiety and paranoia in healthy participants. Sci Rep. 2022;12:16414. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-20841-0
3. Tang J. A cultural approach to musical care: Theoretical perspectives and future directions. Music Sci. 2026;9:20592043251409570. doi:10.1177/20592043251409570
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