Dirty Soup’s creative neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis looks at the four brain chemicals affecting happiness and recommends music to help ease us back into the world.
Today: a rush of dopamine!
KTL: Science tells us loads of dopamine is released in our brain when we hear music that really moves us. Music that gives us chills, gives us goosebumps in fact.
This is epic music that increases in volume and finishes with a long sweeping flourish. The nucleus accumbens in our brain is triggered, and dopamine rushes forth. Often, the brain thinks there’s more sound than there actually is - something called the superadditive effect.
These dopamine tracks do genuinely move us to tears or give us a feeling of empowerment. Commonly it's music that we find either beautiful or moving.
Listen to the full playlist below - and find out more about Katherine HERE.