Music Is A Drug - Official
Written by Infusion Crew    Monday, 31 January 2011 08:10    PDF Print E-mail

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Scientists from Montreal's McGill University suggested this week that listening to music you're moved by triggers a rush of dopamine in the brain similar to the euphoric effects people experience when they're having sex and/ or sniffing cocaine, 'If music-induced emotional states can lead to dopamine release, as our findings indicate, it may begin to explain why musical experiences are so valued," researchers said (in a report published in Nature Neuroscience journal).

"This paper shows that music is inextricably linked with our deepest reward systems," Goldsmiths music psychologist Dr Vicky Williamson concurred.

The researchers found a direct correlation between the amount of dopamine measured and the 'chill effect' the subjects experienced, with people releasing more when they enjoyed 'peak emotional arousal' during favourite musical moments.

The findings struck a chord with the experiences of acid house founder Guy Called Gerald who chatting to Skrufff several years ago, recalled enjoying acid house just as much as drug users.

"I didn't even know the meaning of getting high, so I suppose I must have been getting high on the music," he mused.

"I was enjoying the music and enjoying making it, I enjoyed dancing so I took it to the level where I wanted to study it. That was it. Music and dance; dance and music. There was nothing in between," said Gerald.