What we can learn from music’s ability to evoke images in our minds

For most of us, music has a unique, almost supernatural, ability to trigger our emotions and memories and conjure up evocative images or even fantasies in our minds in a way that few other experiences or art forms can. But what exactly is happening in our brains when we listen to music, is there such a thing as a common musical experience that’s shared by people from different cultures and backgrounds, and can we use any of these powerful effects to help bolster our health and wellbeing? In this episode, we’re joined by Prof Elizabeth Margulis, director of the Music Cognition Lab at Princeton University, to talk about her latest book, Transported – The Everyday Magic of Musical Daydreams. She tells us how, while we may think of listening to music as a highly subjective experience, there are many universal ways people from all walks of life are affected by it, how researchers are studying this fascinating phenomenon, and how we may be able to harness these deeply human effects to help boost our mental health, wellbeing and even creativity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices