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Cited by 62Neuroscience and Music PerceptionEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorLanguage and cultural evolution

Is Music an Evolutionary Adaptation?

Huron, David·2003·The Cognitive Neuroscience of Music
DOI 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198525202.003.0005
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Abstract

This chapter reviews the basic arguments related to evolutionary claims for music. In particular, it describes the theory of evolution by natural selection. Before entertaining some possible evolutionary views of music's origins, first it considers two pertinent complicating points of views. One view is that music is a form of nonadaptive pleasure seeking (NAPS). A second view is that music is an evolutionary vestige. It then measures the adaptive value of music. Of the various proposals concerning a possible evolutionary origin for music, eight broad theories can be identified: mate selection, social cohesion, group effort, perceptual development, motor skill development, conflict reduction, safe time passing and transgenerational communication. There are four types of evidence considered in presenting a case for the evolutionary origins of music. Next, it reports some of the archaeological, anthropological, and ethological facts. Moreover, it explores some of the evolutionary arguments that have been advanced to account for the origins of language. The evidence on music and social bonding is shown. Furthermore, a discussion on music and social function, social bonding and hormones, oxytocin and the biology of social bonding, and mood regulation is provided.

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Crossref · 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198525202.003.0005

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  • It has been argued that singing, as well as other musical activities, may have evolved as a mechanism of social bonding.

    “Notably, it has been argued that singing, as well as other musical activities, may have evolved as a mechanism of social bonding [23–25].”

    From The ice-breaker effect: Singing mediates fast social bonding (2015) · cites this paper as [23]

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Authors
Huron, D.
Corresponding author
Huron, David
ORCID
Huron, David
Venue
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Music
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Published
2003-07-10
Pages
57-75
DOI
10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198525202.003.0005
OpenAlex
W4245047179
Cited by
62
References
0
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
FWCI
0.98
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Oxford University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Language and cultural evolution
Keywords
evolution of music, natural selection, mate choice, social cohesion, social bonding, oxytocin, hormones, mood regulation, origin of language, ethology, music archaeology

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