Music and the Origins of Language: Neil deGrasse Tyson talks with Daniel Levitin

From the YouTube page:

Did early humans sing before they could talk? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice discover how music helps us recall memories, the singing Neanderthal theory. the default mode network, and how music can be used as medicine with neuroscientist and bestselling author, Daniel Levitin.

Would we have been able to communicate with aliens using music like in Close Encounters of a Third Kind? We explore Levitin’s new book I Heard There Was A Secret Chord which explores how music not only enriches our lives but also impacts our brains, behavior, and health.

We discuss how music can be a source of pleasure and how it captivates us—ever wonder why certain songs get stuck in your head? We explore how music has been a critical form of communication for thousands of years, predating written language, and how it helps encode knowledge and transmit information across generations. From ancient bone flutes to modern-day symphonies, why does music hold such a powerful place in human history?

We also dig into music's therapeutic powers—how it can boost cognitive reserves, help Parkinson's patients walk, relieve pain, and even enhance memory. Did you know that music has the power to activate every part of your brain? Whether you're soothing a baby with a lullaby or summoning old memories through a favorite song, the impact of music is profound. Levitin explains how music therapy is being explored as a potential solution to alleviate neurological afflictions like multiple sclerosis and Tourette syndrome.

Learn about the relationship between music and the brain’s "default mode network"—the state your brain enters when it’s at rest or wandering. We explore memory retrieval and how it’s tied to music’s ability to trigger unique, specific memories.

Discover why certain songs can transport us back to vivid moments in our past, acting as powerful cues for recalling experiences. We discuss how music persists beyond memory-related conditions like Alzheimer's, as seen in the case of Tony Bennett, who, despite the progression of the disease, retained the ability to perform his beloved songs. This connection between music, memory, and neural activation offers exciting possibilities for therapeutic applications in the future.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Daniel Levitin
2:55 - Communicating to Aliens Using Music
6:12 - The Evolution of Music & Singing Neanderthal Theory
11:55 - Music v. Communication
15:45 - Neuroscience of Music & Memory Retrieval
24:34 - The Default Mode Network
28:24 - Music as Medicine
42:13 - How Does Memory Work?