In an article entitled “Why Musicians Make Us Weep And Computers Don’t,” Science Daily reports, “Music can soothe the savage breast much better if played by musicians rather than clever computers, according to a new University of Sussex-led study.”

It continues, “Although the participants did not play instruments and considered themselves unmusical, their brains showed clear electric activity in response to musical changes (unexpected chords and changes in tonal key), which indicated that the brain was understanding the “musical grammar”. This response was enhanced, however, when the sonatas were played by musicians rather than a computer.”

The reason is that the brain recognizes musical expression — even when that brain is musically untrained.

The article concludes, “This is similar to the response we see when the brain is responding to language and working out what the words mean,” says Dr Koelsch. “Our results suggest that musicians actually tell us something when they play The brain responses show that when a pianist plays a piece with emotional expression, the piece is actually perceived as meaningful by listeners, even if they have not received any formal musical training.”

To read the whole story (and find other interesting scientific-musical links), see sciencedaily.com : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080708200645.htm