There is no mystery to feeling sad when you are faced with disappointment, loss, or stressful situations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Census Bureau began sending weekly questionnaires to over ...

Sadness is generally seen as a negative emotion, but we tend to find it pleasurable in an aesthetic context. What is the nature of pleasure that people experience from listening to sad music?

You would think happy people would prefer to listen to happy music. Lyrics that speak to their positive mood, bringing them cheer and joy. Yet, sad music tends to have a longer-lasting appeal for many ...

Music is a part of every culture around the world. In fact, the ability to appreciate music is built into our brains, suggesting music has an evolutionary function. Many music studies look at the long ...

Amy Winehouse performs during the 46664 concert in celebration of Nelson Mandela's life at Hyde Park on June 27, 2008 in London. Sadness takes on different forms, from regret to depression to loss; ...

People who come to therapy after experiencing a difficult breakup often mention that they have been turning to music as a source of emotional release. They sometimes ponder questions like: “Why am I ...

Music can lift your spirits, calm your nerves, or break your heart in a few notes. It can also nudge what you remember, but ...

Professor of Cognitive-Neuroscience , Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle When I hear Shania Twain’s You’re Still The One, it takes me back to when I was 15, playing on my ...

Not everyone who listens to breakup music is going through a breakup. In fact, people in stable relationships can also gravitate toward these emotional songs. So it is perhaps unsurprising that ...

Adele’s new album, “30”, is finally available. Last month, hundreds of millions of us streamed its first single, “Easy On Me.” This song evokes feelings not easily put into words. But we can probably ...

Movies have a way of making us laugh, cry, or hold our breath in suspense. Music is a big part of why this happens. A soft ...