Debating the Superiority: Music versus Intimacy?
Feeling the Groove: How Live Concerts Make Us Feel Happier and More Connected
It's not just your imagination when you feel a surge of happiness and connection at a concert - science says it's all thanks to the "cuddle hormone," oxytocin! Research conducted by TU Dresden during the Dresden Music Festival reveals that listening to music together can create a deeper sense of connection than a hug.
Often recognized for its role in boosting the immune system and aiding with stress, anxiety, and pain, oxytocin is usually released during physical intimacy like cuddling or sex. But it turns out that music offers a different kind of happiness! In a live concert setting, audience members exhibited an average oxytocin level of 203.17 pg/ml post-concert, as compared to 37.54 pg/ml before.
Musicians themselves weren't far behind in the oxytocin rush! While a quick hug didn't have much of an impact, playing music together led to a significant increase in oxytocin concentration - an average of 88.49 pg/ml.
"Amazing! I've never seen anything like this before," Professor Clemens Kirschbaum of TU Dresden remarked, noting that the oxytocin surges observed during concerts sometimes exceeded those reported after passionate kissing or sex.
In essence, music brings people together biologically, creating connections that surpass the impact of a hug. This shared experience also reduces stress hormones like cortisol, leading to feelings of happiness and relaxation.
The Dresden Music Festival 2025 reaped the benefits of the audience's heightened emotions, with an average occupancy of 95% - even two percent higher than the previous year. Over 65,000 visitors attended the 58 events from May 17 to June 14, generating two million euros in ticket revenues.
When people listen to or perform music together, their brains become synchronously engaged, a process known as neural entrainment, reinforcing feelings of connectedness. This powerful combination of oxytocin release and neural entrainment fosters a strong sense of community and makes live performances feel more emotionally intense and meaningful than regular interactions. So, grab some tickets and get ready to feel the power of music!
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2472451/[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5475860/[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2676148/[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16842720[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3189729/
- The scientific study of oxytocin reveals that music, particularly live concerts, can contribute to health-and-wellness by promoting a deeper sense of connection amongst people, even surpassing the effects of a physical hug.
- Interestingly, both listeners and performers experience a boost in oxytocin levels during live concerts, making music an essential component of entertainment and a potential tool for science in supporting health-and-wellness, as well as fostering a sense of community and happiness.
