Music is often called a universal language, but for a small number of people, it doesn’t stir any feelings at all. Scientists call this phenomenon specific musical anhedonia, and it affects roughly 3–5% of the population. People with this condition hear and recognize music perfectly, yet their brain’s reward system fails to activate. In these cases, the neural connection between the auditory cortex and pleasure centers like the nucleus accumbens stays weak, blocking the transformation of sound into pleasure.
When the Brain Stays Silent to Music
Those with musical anhedonia still enjoy other rewards, such as winning money or eating favorite foods. Their emotional systems function normally, but music simply doesn’t trigger them. A specific disconnection in the brain prevents musical processing from activating pleasure pathways.
Emotional Numbness and Alexithymia
In some cases, emotional numbness—not anhedonia—explains why people fail to react to music. Depression, burnout, and chronic stress can blunt emotional responses, draining joy from once-pleasurable experiences. People with alexithymia, who struggle to identify and express emotions, often find it harder to connect with the feelings embedded in songs.
Why Some Get Chills and Others Don’t
Brain scans reveal that those who feel chills or “frisson” from music have stronger neural links between sound-processing areas and emotional centers. These connections allow music to trigger intense reactions, while their absence leaves other listeners unmoved.
Shaped by Culture and Personality
Cultural exposure, personal history, and personality traits like empathy shape how music affects us. Some listeners cry when they hear a sorrowful ballad, while others hear nothing more than background noise. For a small but significant group, music will always remain emotionally blank, offering scientists a rare look into how the brain processes art and emotion.
