Why Do Certain Songs Turn Us On? The Science Behind Music Making You Horny
Whether we wear something cool after inviting someone to pick up some tunes or stop playing a senseless techno playlist in the bedroom, we all have music we listen to when we're in the mood.
Choosing the right path is very important. This is no time to rely on your Spotify preferences and hope that a part of your guilty pleasure that no one else wants to know will shine through.
Only a casual game of "Bunny" Chas and Dave will always kill the mood and keep you buried forever.
But why are sex and music so connected?
And before we go any further - no, it's not because of ASMR - if you hear certain triggering sounds that can start in the skin and radiate to the neck and upper spine.
According to the ASMR University, "The main stimuli / triggers of ASMR are soft whispers, caresses and light touches," but not everyone will respond to them.
However, ASMR and music are very different, and while the sound of someone passing through a bottle of pickles can be fun and numb the brain, you're unlikely to suddenly want to have sex.
Likewise, an explosive song that makes you think about sex might make you feel a little hot and annoyed, but it certainly won't scratch your ASMR itch.
While there's no compelling reason why some songs and sounds can drive your body and mind crazy (for you it might sound like Marvin Gaye, for others - like me - it might be listening to Beyonce's Bad Girls) , here it is. There are several reasons why music can trigger your sexual desire.
Neuroscientist and science writer Alice Gray says, "Rhythm and rhythm are created in our bodies by physiological processes such as the heartbeat. Music has a complex relationship with many brain functions, such as memory and emotions."
For example, listening to a song takes you back to a specific time (perhaps a specific time of sex ). Music is a powerful reminder of past encounters, good or bad. Maybe you don't want to think about that guy trying to scratch you to seduce you, but all you have to do is hear "I've never been the wisest ..." to suddenly walk into that apartment.
Likewise, listening to Rihanna's S&M songs will bring you back to your youth and make out with someone on the club dance floor at 3am.
Lyrics can also play a big role in why music drives you crazy: spoiler alert, people singing about sex can make you think about sex, and extra points if a song is whispered or out of breath. Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby takes it one step further, as Summer can be heard enjoying 22 orgasms throughout the song, according to a Time magazine report.
Listening to music is also a social activity and, as Alice puts it, "The tone, melody and rhythm of music engages the parts of the brain associated with social emotions, so music can support behaviors and actions related to social activities."
She added: "Background music can make us more excited to connect socially - the perfect setting for flirting."
So playing music when you're with someone makes you want to talk more, a win in our book (now to master our flirting skills).
Alice also says that music can get our brains excited by what we hear, releasing feel-good chemicals that flood the body during sex.
He explains: “Music is closely related to our brain's emotional response. Music activates our brain's reward pathways, which in turn releases these pleasure chemicals.
"These brain pathways are the same pleasure pathways that are activated when we eat sweet foods, engage in social activities and have sex.
"Since sex and music stimulate our reward pathways in our brains and cause the release of feel-good chemicals such as dopamine, it is possible that music can put us 'in the mood' because we activate a similar activity. in the brain.
The main point? It has to be a song you love to activate those hormones; so when it comes to pushing the music, a lot of it is personal preference.
However, we think you will be hard pressed to find anyone other than Donna Summer on their playlist after reading this.
Any stories to tell?
Contact us by email at MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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