Music transcends the framework of aesthetic expression to become a highly complex neuromodulatory stimulus. 1. Neurochemistry, Emotional Modulation, and Mental Health At the subcortical level, pleasurable music listening activates the mesolimbic reward system, triggering dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. This neurochemical response is complemented by cortisol modulation — reducing the physiological markers of stress … Continue reading The Science of Sound: How Music Shapes Our Lives