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June 13, 2008

Strange But True!

Q. Just what could be music's strongest ways of moving all of us, even when we may not wish to be moved?

A. A musical species we humans are, with music occupying more areas of the brain than language does, says Oliver Sacks in “Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain.” One man after being struck by lightning was suddenly inspired to become a pianist at age 42. To people with a condition termed “amusia,” a symphony can sound like the clattering of pots and pans. To some, a catchy tune unstoppably takes them into hours of mental replay. For others, musical hallucinations assault them night and day.


 
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