Music Study Shows Our Brains to Be ‘Prediction Machines’

New neuroscience research uses music to show how the brain works as a predictor. Researchers were studying “units of meaning” and the way a musical phrase can evoke uncertainty and expectations about what’s coming next. They conclude that the brain is constantly one step ahead, matching our expectations with what is about to happen. Per the research group, “this is the first time that empirical evidence has been presented to show that the brain’s predictions form the basis for musical phrasing.” Learn more in this Technology Networks article.