Decoding Emotional Responses: The Science Behind Music Preferences

Researchers have empirically quantified the emotional impact of music by analyzing the predictability of musical sequences, using time series analysis to measure the 'transition times' from predictable to unpredictable patterns. This study, published in Nature Communications, examined over 450 jazz improvisations and 99 classical compositions, revealing that jazz typically has shorter transition times, making it less predictable than classical music. The research also found that Mozart's compositions tend to have longer transition times compared to Bach's, offering more predictability and less variability.