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To prove this point, the scientists gave the students two tests. In the first, the students were asked to listen to popular music and rate how pleasurable they considered each song. In the second, the students were given money for quickly pressing a target. A music-loving control group responded positively to both tests, whereas the 10 musically indifferent students enjoyed only the money reward test.
While some psychiatric disorders are associated with the loss of the ability to feel pleasure, called anhedonia, the students represent the first evidence for not feeling pleasure from only one specific pleasing stimulant, the researchers report online today in Current Biology. The team suspects that between 1% and 3% of people suffer from the condition, called music-specific anhedonia. This musically apathetic group could help scientists better understand the neuroscience of the reward system, the team says. Curious where you fall on the music reward spectrum? The researchers have an online quiz.
Reader Comments
Boo hoo.
Music can't just be categorized as one thing. There are so many different styles, different sounds and atmospheres that could be conveyed with the right music. Probably these people just don't know any music that actually affects them positively so they tune it out. I personally have to totally tune out a lot of pop music in order to concentrate. Even though I appreciate music sometimes, I find it can take over my whole psyche if it's loud or is suggesting themes and feelings that I have to consider to absorb. And of course if you don't like the messages and find them contrary to your comfort, you have to shut them out and put up defenses towards their messages, especially if they are, say, impassioned pleas of an artist who you find flaky, fake, or commercialized. Who knows why these people didn't respond, maybe they only like water noises with soft swooshing sounds, and a distant flute that's barely audible. Some people are just irked by certain sounds, certain popular music patterns, or even just the sound of drums. It doesn't mean they are anhedonic towards all music. Most music is made by passionate people, some people don't like to be incited, that could explain the entire effect.