Auditory Cheesecake: The Evolution and Structure of Music

Why does music matter so much to us?

In this episode, we explore Steven Pinker’s famous claim that music is “auditory cheesecake.” Pinker argues that music may not be an evolutionary adaptation at all, but rather a human invention that takes advantage of mental abilities that evolved for other purposes.

We look at how music draws on language, hearing, movement, pattern recognition, and emotion, and how the brain turns sound into rhythm, meter, grouping, and musical structure.

Pinker’s argument raises a fascinating question: if music was not necessary for our survival, why has it become such a powerful and important part of human life?

Watch the bonus video here.

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