Why music moves us: brains, animals, noise, and the science of sound
This preview is based only on the episode’s show notes. It looks like a wide-ranging conversation with biomusicologist Dr. David Bashwiner on how music connects to emotion, the brain, animal communication, and everyday listening—from major/minor keys to binaural beats and piano practice.
*This is a preview based on the published show notes, not a recap of the audio.* If you like episodes that bounce between science, art, and delightfully odd examples, this one seems built for you. The notes describe Dr. David Bashwiner as a theoretical, neuro-, and biomusicologist, and suggest a conversation that stretches from human music perception to bird songs, whale songs, aquatic echolocation, and even mole crickets. A big draw here is the mix of familiar questions and unexpected detours. On the familiar side, the episode appears to explore how scales work, what major and minor keys do to the brain, whether “perfect pitch” is really what people think it is, and why practicing piano might be worth the effort. On the more curiosity-sparking side: toadfish, spider guitar strings, white noise, binaural beats, Baby Mozart, loud apes, and fandom as identity. Based on the notes, this sounds less like a narrow technical lecture and more like an expansive tour of our musical nature—how sound relates to emotion, cognition, therapy, and even the broader animal world. If you enjoy Ologies episodes that connect neuroscience with culture and behavior, this looks like a strong pick. If you’re especially interested in why certain sounds affect us the way they do, this episode seems likely to offer plenty to chew on.
About this episode
<p>Music. Emotion. Brain waves. Whale songs. Toadfish. Distant moons. Loud apes. And why it’s worth it to practice piano. Brilliant and warm musician and assistant professor at Albuquerque's University of New Mexico, Dr. David Bashwiner is a theoretical, neuro- and biomusicologist. Settling into his office (with a baby grand) we covered everything from bird songs to aquatic echolocation, how scales work, major vs. minor keys and their impact on the brain, music therapies, white noise, binaural beats, mole crickets, fandom as identity, spider guitar strings, Baby Mozart, so-called perfect pitch, and so much more. Stay tuned for a bonus episode hosted by Podmother Jarrett Sleeper about getting more creative musically. Go bang on something. Hard. </p> <p>Visit Dr. Bashwiner’s <a href="https://www.davidbashwiner.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> and follow him on <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IBuiIQ4AAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Scholar</a></p> <p>A donation went to <a href="https://aihs.aps.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">APS International High School</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/biomusicology" rel="noopener noreferrer">More episode sources and links</a></p> <p>Other episodes you may enjoy: <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/mnemonology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mnemonology (MEMORY)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/eudemonology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eudemonology (HAPPINESS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/molecularneurobiology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/salugenology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/2017/11/7/ornithology-with-james-maley" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ornithology (BIRDS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/mantodeology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mantodeology (PRAYING MANTISES)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/primatology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Primatology (APES & MONKEYS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/misophonology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Misophonology (DISTRACTING SOUND & NOISE RAGE)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/adhd" rel="noopener noreferrer">Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/funology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Funology (YES, FUN)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies-by-topic" rel="noopener noreferrer">400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic</a></p> <p><a href="https://pod.link/1746567248" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes</a></p> <p><a href="https://alieward.com/ologies-sponsors" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sponsors of Ologies</a></p> <p><a href="https://alieward.com/ologies-extras" rel="noopener noreferrer">Transcripts and bleeped episodes</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/ologies" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Become a patron of Ologies</a> for as little as a buck a month</p> <p><a href="https://www.ologiesmerch.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">OlogiesMerch.com</a> has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!</p> <p>Follow Ologies on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ologies" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/ologies.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a></p> <p>Follow Alie Ward on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alieward" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alie_ologies" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TikTok</a></p> <p>Editing by Mercedes Maitland of <a href="http://maitlandaudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maitland Audio Productions</a> and <a href="https://www.jecmusic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jake Chaffee</a></p> <p>Managing Director: Susan Hale</p> <p>Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth</p> <p>Transcripts by Aveline Malek </p> <p>Website by <a href="https://www.kellyrdwyer.com/photo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kelly R. Dwyer</a></p> <p>Theme song by Nick Thorburn</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>