Genetics and music: Why enjoyment of melodies is partly hereditary!

Genetics and music: Why enjoyment of melodies is partly hereditary!

A current study by the Max Planck Institutes for Psycholinguistics and Empirical Aesthetics sheds new light on the incredibly complex relationship between genetics and music enjoyment. The study, published in the renowned journalNature Communicationspublished aims to clarify why some people enjoy music more intensely than others. With a database of over 9,000 pairs of twins and collaboration with the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, the research offers deeper insights into the biological basis of the perception of music.

The results show that more than half, specifically 54 percent, of the differences in music enjoyment are genetically determined. This means that enjoyment of music is not only based on learned skills or personal preferences, but is also influenced by specific genetic factors. As the study authors note, both innate and environmental elements play a role in the way people perceive musical sounds.

Insights into research

The research also specifically outlines that different facets of music enjoyment, such as emotions, playing along to the music or dancing to the beat, are influenced by different genes. This makes it clear that the preference for music and the ability to recognize musical structures is not just a question of personal taste, but has genetic roots. These findings are not only important for musicology, but also open up new perspectives for cognitive science.

In addition, the study describes an innovative method for calculating a “polygenic score” for the sense of rhythm (PGSrhythm). This score can predict general musicality and is related to other musical abilities. Researchers have found that genetic variants that affect the sense of rhythm also affect the ability to distinguish melodies and pitches. This goes so far that the PGSrhythm even predicts the tendency to enjoy music and actively engage with it.

Additional insights and outlook

In addition to twin pairs, the study also includes other aspects of early childhood experience. These relationships suggest that genetic predispositions and environmental factors are dynamically interrelated. In addition to the progress made in basic research, a national twin registry called “Gertrud” was also launched, which is intended to enable further research into the interaction of genetic and environmental influences.

In summary, this extensive study shows that the enjoyment of music is a complex issue with deep biological roots. Whether due to genetic predispositions or external influences – science brings us closer to understanding how we feel and experience music.

For further information, interested twin pairs can register to participate in pioneering studies www.gertrud.info register.

Find out more about the study and its results at Vienna.at, conducted by the Max Planck Institutes, and deepen your knowledge of the connection between genetics and musical experience Aesthetics MPG as well as Aesthetics MPG Cognitive Neuropsychology.