Featured Publications
Universal interpretations of vocal music
Yurdum L, Singh M, Glowacki L, Vardy T, Atkinson Q, Hilton C, Sauter D, Krasnow M, Mehr S. Universal interpretations of vocal music. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2218593120. PMID: 37676911, PMCID: PMC10500275, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218593120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVocal musicDance songsSmall-scale societiesUniversal interpretationHuman songMusical diversityMusical featuresUnfamiliar songsCultural contentUnfamiliar languageGlobal mediaMusicSongsCultural evolutionLullabiesAcoustic characteristicsListenersBehavioral contextSocietyPerceptual phenomenaContextSingersEnglishLanguagePerceptual sensitivity
2023
Universality, domain-specificity and development of psychological responses to music
Singh M, Mehr S. Universality, domain-specificity and development of psychological responses to music. Nature Reviews Psychology 2023, 2: 333-346. PMID: 38143935, PMCID: PMC10745197, DOI: 10.1038/s44159-023-00182-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPsychological responsesPsychological mechanismsRelevant psychological mechanismsHuman cognitive capacitiesMusical performersIdiosyncratic styleMusicCognitive adaptationCognitive systemCognitive capacityAuditory perceptionCultural evolutionBehavioral responsesUniversal patternMore general propertiesPerformersEmotionsStyleUniversalityTinkeringPerceptionAdaptationEvidenceFindingsTopic
2020
Origins of music in credible signaling
Mehr S, Krasnow M, Bryant G, Hagen E. Origins of music in credible signaling. Behavioral And Brain Sciences 2020, 44: e60. PMID: 32843107, PMCID: PMC7907251, DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x20000345.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEvolution of musicOrigins of musicInfant-directed songHuman musicMusical behaviorMusical formMusicAltricial infantsCognitive phenomenaEffects of adaptationPsychological adaptationSocial bondingParental attentionCultural evolutionInterdisciplinary evidenceReceptionMate qualityMelodySongsProper domainCoordination abilityInfant careRhythmAdaptationDiverse categories