Music listening is a ubiquitous and constant phenomenon in our lives. This desire is driven by music’s core effects on motivation, pleasure, and social connection. These effects promote health and well-being (Levitin, 2024). Listening to music (self-selected) reduces stress and pain, improves mood, and reduces anxiety. The power of music comes from four core elements of human musicality: tonality, rhythm, reward, and pro-social affiliation (Bowling, 2023). However, to be effective, music medicine must consider individual tastes. There is no song that everybody likes.

Tonality is a core element of human musicality. Tonality includes harmony, melody, and timbre (the quality of sounds). Musical tonality conveys emotion and can regulate the listener's feelings. For example, a positive, calming voice can relieve high anxiety and agitated negative mood. Similarly, lullabies typically comprise tones with relatively more low-frequency energy with repeating patterns. However, some people........

© Psychology Today