Rhythm & timing (entrainment, but not mystical)
The brain is very sensitive to rhythm.
If music has a steady beat:
Slow tempo (~60 BPM) → supports relaxed states
Fast tempo → increases alertness
Brain activity tends to align in timing, not frequency identity
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Predictability & pattern
The brain loves patterns.
Repetitive, harmonic sounds → reduce prediction error
educed prediction error → calmer neural processing
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