Unit 1: Music -- The biology of music

The biology of music
1 What are two things that make humans different from all other animals? One is language and the other is music. While other animals can sing -- indeed, many birds do so better than a lot of people — birdsong, and the song of animals such as whales, is limited in type. No other animal has developed a musical instrument.

2 Music is strange stuff. It is clearly different from language. People can, nevertheless, use it to communicate things — especially their emotions. When combined with speech in a song, it is one of most powerful means of communication that humans have. But, biologically speaking, what is it?

3 If music is truly different from speech, then it ought to come from a distinct part of the brain. That part keeps music separate from other sounds, including language. The evidence suggests that such a part does exist.

4 People whose language-processing ability is damaged do not automatically lose their musical abilities. For example, Vissarion Shebalin, a Russian composer, suffered a stroke to the left side of his brain in 1953. After that, he could no longer speak or understand speech. He could, however, still compose music until his death ten years later. On the other hand, there are one or two cases of people who have lost their musical abilities but who can still speak and understand speech. This shows that the brain processes music and language independently.
5 A lot is known about how music works its magic. Why it does so is a different question. Geoffrey Miller, a researcher at University College, London, thinks that music and love are connected to each other. Because music requires special talent and practice, it is a way of demonstrating your fitness to be someone’s mate. Singing in tune, or playing a musical instrument, requires fine muscular control. Remembering the notes demands a good memory. Getting those notes
right once you have r them suggests a play is in top condition. fact that much music man to the woman vice versa) suggest indeed, a way of showing off.