Musical features emerging from a biocultural musicality

Behav Brain Sci. 2021 Sep 30:44:e87. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X20001491.

Abstract

Savage et al. make a compelling case, Mehr et al. less so, for social bonding and credible signalling, respectively, as the main adaptive function of human musicality. We express general advocacy for the former thesis, highlighting: (1) overlap between the two; (2) direct versus derived biological functions, and (3) aspects of music embedded in cultural evolution, for example, departures from tonality.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Cultural Evolution*
  • Humans
  • Music*