Why Some People Don’t Enjoy Music – And Why That’s Okay
By Science Correspondent
Have you ever met someone who just doesn’t like music? While that might sound surprising, scientists now know there’s a real reason why – and it all comes down to the way the brain is wired.
About ten years ago, researchers in Spain discovered a small group of people who don’t feel any pleasure when listening to music. They don’t dislike it – they simply feel nothing.
This rare condition is called “musical anhedonia”, and it’s not due to bad hearing or a lack of musical taste.
These individuals enjoy other things like food, games, or social events – but music just doesn’t do anything for them.
Now, in a new study published this week, scientists at the University of Barcelona have found out why. Using brain scans and special tests, they discovered that people with musical anhedonia have a small “disconnect” between the part of the brain that hears music and the part that feels pleasure.
“This explains why people with the condition can hear music normally but don’t enjoy it,” said neuroscientist Dr. Josep Marco-Pallarés, one of the lead researchers. “It’s not that their pleasure system is broken – it’s just not connecting with the music part.”
To help study this further, the team created a tool called the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire, which looks at how music affects people emotionally, socially, and even physically. Those with musical anhedonia tend to score low across all areas.
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Interestingly, this research could help scientists understand more about how different people experience joy and reward – not just from music, but from food, hobbies, and social connections too.
It might even lead to new ways of studying and treating mental health conditions like depression or addiction.
And while musical anhedonia might sound like a sad condition, the researchers say it’s just a different way of experiencing the world. Some people love music, others love numbers, puzzles, or painting – and that’s what makes us all unique.
So if someone tells you they don’t like music, don’t be too surprised. Their brain might just be dancing to a different tune.
