Cognitive function, origin, and evolution of musical emotions

Abstract

Based on recent advancements in cognitive science and mathematical models of the mind, this paper proposes a hypothesis on a fundamental role of music in cognition, and in the evolution of the mind, consciousness, and cultures. The vocalizations of proto-humans split into two types: one less emotional and more concretely semantic, evolving into language, and the other preserving emotional connections along with semantic ambiguity, evolving into music. The proposed hypothesis considers specific mechanisms of the mind-brain, which required the evolution of music in parallel with the evolution of cultures and languages. The evolution of language toward becoming the semantically powerful tool used today has required emancipation from emotional encumbrances. Arguments explore why no less powerful mechanisms required a compensatory evolution of music toward more differentiated and refined emotionality. Due to this common origin, language and music in all cultures still retain both semantics and emotionality; however, in this article we emphasize differences in the functions of music and language. The fast differentiation of knowledge due to language has created cognitive dissonances among knowledge and instincts. Differentiated emotions were needed for resolving these dissonances. Thus the need for refined music in the process of cultural evolution is grounded in fundamental mechanisms of cognition. This is why today’s human mind and cultures cannot exist without today’s music. Empirical data on the parallel evolution of cognition, emotions, consciousness, and music during the last three thousand years are discussed. Data on changes in musical styles parallel to changes in consciousness support the proposed hypothesis. We propose experimental approaches toward verification of this hypothesis in psychological and neuroimaging research.