MPI researcher Giacomo Bignardi featured in interview on genetics and music

How much of our enjoyment of music is shaped by our genes? In a recent interview on Science Unscripted (podcast, radio show & YouTube channel driven by listeners), Giacomo Bignardi from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (MPI) discusses how researchers study individual differences in aesthetic experiences such as music.

Bignardi appears about fifteen minutes into the interview, where he explains how scientists combine behavioural data with genetic methods to investigate why some people experience stronger emotional responses to music than others. His research draws on large datasets and twin studies to disentangle the contributions of genetics and environment.

“People vary a lot in how strongly they respond to music,” Bignardi explains. “By combining genetic data with psychological measures, we can start to understand where those differences come from.”

Research in this field suggests that musical enjoyment is partly heritable, meaning that genetic differences explain some of the variation between individuals. At the same time, cultural exposure, personal experiences and learning remain crucial factors. The work forms part of a broader effort to understand the biological and psychological foundations of aesthetic experiences.

Listen to the interview here (Giacomo appears from around 15 minutes)