Happiness

Happiness is an emotion that encompasses a variety of positive feelings, such as excitement and joy. In the context of music, many feel happiness when listening to a song that always inexplicably brightens their mood. However, what is happening is that dopamine (Fink, 2020), a neurotransmitter, is released by the brain's neurons and stimulates a sense of pleasure when we hear an expressive piece of music. A fast tempo is a common musical feature that helps release dopamine and is found commonly in upbeat music (Zaatar et al., 2024). This release can lead to positive mood shifts and physiological benefits (Fritz, 2008), such as relaxing the body and heart rate. Listening to uplifting music can even motivate people to get up and dance, alleviating depression or anxiety.