It is released both at the anticipation stage, before we actually listen to the music, and when we are at the peak of enjoyment. It is released from different sites in the brain at each stage. This is the first time that scientists have shown an abstract rewarding experience could release dopamine, which is usually released in response to activities such as taking drugs, having sex or eating. According to the researchers, it also shows that these neurological pathways that respond to music are ancient and, though music has no obvious survival benefit, this response has been found across societies.
In the study conducted at the Montral Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) at McGill University in conjunction with The Centre of Interdisciplinary Research in Music, Media and Technology (CIRMMT) the researchers used two types of brain imagining in a unique way to uncover what takes place in the brain while study participants listened to music. They used functional magnetic resonance imagery (fMRI) and positron emission topography (PET). The fMRI allowed them to see which areas of the brain became active when the participants listened to the music and the PET revealed the chemicals and receptors that were activated. This was a unique and novel approach for using these technologies.
