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CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2025; 83(09): s00451811233
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811233
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811233
Review Article
The neuroscience of music perception: a narrative review
Abstract
The present review article explores the neuroscience of musical perception, examining the roles of specific brain regions in decoding and interpreting music. Musical perception engages multiple cortical and subcortical areas that work in an integrated manner to process musical elements such as melody, harmony, and rhythm. The paper reviews the current knowledge about the brain circuits involved, as well as pathological conditions that result in abnormalities of musical perception. In addition, the relationship between musical perception and neurological conditions such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease is explored. The present review is based on findings from structural and functional neuroimaging studies, neuropsychology, neurophysiology, and clinical research, aiming to show how the brain transforms music sounds into meaningful experiences and addressing pathological conditions in which this complex process may be affected, either in isolation or in association with other forms of neurological impairment.
Authors' Contributions
Conceptualization: RBD, LAD, VRP, JLP; Formal analysis: RBD, VRP, JLP; Investigation: RBD, LAD, VRP, JLP; Methodology: RBD, LAD, JLP; Project administration: RBD, VRP, JLP; Resources: RBD, VRP; Software: LAD, VRP; Supervision: RBD, LAD, VRP, JLP; Validation: RBD, LAD, VRP, JLP; Visualization: RBD, VRP, JLP; Writing – original draft: RBD, LAD, VRP, JLP; Writing – review & editing: RBD, LAD, VRP, JLP.
Data Availability Statement
The data that supports the findings of the present study are available fromthe corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Editor-in-Chief: Hélio A. G. Teive (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2305-1073).
Associate Editor: Renato Puppi Munhoz (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4783-4067).
Publication History
Received: 20 December 2024
Accepted: 16 June 2025
Article published online:
31 August 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua Rego Freitas, 175, loja 1, República, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01220-010, Brazil
Bibliographical Record
Renan Barros Domingues, Luísa Aires Domingues, Victor Rebelo Procaci, José Luiz Pedroso. The neuroscience of music perception: a narrative review. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2025; 83: s00451811233.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811233
Renan Barros Domingues, Luísa Aires Domingues, Victor Rebelo Procaci, José Luiz Pedroso. The neuroscience of music perception: a narrative review. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2025; 83: s00451811233.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811233
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