NPR

How The Brain Teases Apart A Song's Words And Music

Brain scans show that when people listen to songs, an area in the left hemisphere decodes speech-like sounds while one on the right processes musical information.
Your brain uses the left side to make sense of lyrics and the right side for a song's melody.

A song fuses words and music. Yet the human brain can instantly separate a song's lyrics from its melody.

And now scientists think they know how this happens.

A team led by researchers at McGill University in Thursday that song sounds are processed simultaneously by two separate brain areas – one in the left hemisphere and one in the

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min readCrime & Violence
Guatemalan AG Raids Save The Children Office Over A Migrant Children Rights Complaint
Prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche said that the complaint filed by an unidentified foreigner had raised serious concerns because it involved allegations of abuse of children.
NPR2 min read
New Staffing Updates To The Short Wave Team
Congratulations to Berly McCoy and Rachel Carlson for becomming permanent producers and Regina G. Barber for becomming full time co-host!
NPR2 min read
Chicago's 'Rat Hole' Is Removed After The City Determined The Sidewalk Was Damaged
The imprint of an animal had been a quirk of a residential block in Chicago's North Side for years but a post on social media brought it new fame, which neighbors found to be a nuisance.

Related