“Music has the ability to evoke powerful emotional responses, sometimes experienced as physical ‘chills.’ While its pleasurable effects are widely recognized, the brain mechanisms behind them are still not fully understood. Previous research has shown that the brain’s opioid system is involved in pleasurable experiences tied to essential behaviors like eating. Now, this study provides the first direct evidence that the same system is engaged when we enjoy music,” Dr. Putkinen explains.
Results were published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine on 4 April 2025.
For further information, see https://www.utu.fi/en/news/press-release/favourite-music-sets-the-brains-opioids-in-motion