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Learning to Listen: Neurological Evidence

Neurological evidence indicates we not only learn to listen, but actually tune our inner ear response based on neural feedback from the brain. We literally are able to actively tune our own hearing.  

When we listen for a flute for example, this is more than a conscious decision to focus on the flute. This creates neural impulses that actively tune ear cells to better hear the flute.  

This whole video is fascinating, but I want to get you hooked right away so check this out:  
https://youtu.be/SuSGN8yVrcU?t=1340

“Selectively changing what we’re listening to in response to the content. Literally reaching out to listen for things.”


Here’s another good one. Everyone can hear subtle details about five times as good as predicted by modeling. Some of us however can hear 50 times as good. The difference? Years spent learning to listen closely! https://youtu.be/SuSGN8yVrcU?t=1956

Learning to play music really does help improve your listening.  

This video is chock full of neurphysiological evidence that by studying, learning and practice you can develop the listening skills to hear things you literally could not hear before. Our hearing evolved millennia before we invented music. We are only just now beginning to scratch at the potential evolution has bestowed on us.


128x128millercarbon
tvad
11,620 posts
 
@frogman, thank you. I touched on attending live music in my first post, and I'm happy to see you eloquently expand upon that.

Your idea of enrolling in a music appreciation course is something I hadn't considered. I took a music appreciation course in college, and it was tremendous. Great suggestion.

Thank you also for the two book recommendations. I ordered the Copeland volume. My wife and I have been LA Phil subscribers for a decade, and it's never too late to enhance the experience.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,927 posts
 
…the pre concert lecture…..


tvad
11,620 posts
 
…the pre concert lecture…....

We attend a majority of pre concert lectures. They’re interesting and add great context. I can’t say they have ever made me a better listener in a manner that would translate at home. 
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 
@millercarbon
When we listen for a flute for example, this is more than a conscious decision to focus on the flute. This creates neural impulses that actively tune ear cells to better hear the flute.

I find that claim pretty unbelievable.
Do you have a link?
Does it work only with the ears, or can I imagine other body parts and make them also perform new feats?
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon OP
12,531 posts
 
I find that claim pretty unbelievable.
Do you have a link?

Lord, help me. The bit in blue. At the top of the page. Yeah that bit, looks like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuSGN8yVrcU&t=1340s
Which is even cued up so you don't have to wait long to hear:
“Selectively changing what we’re listening to in response to the content. Literally reaching out to listen for things.”

Unbelievable. Indeed. Something sure is.
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