When it comes to alcohol, it’s a question of taste: some have a preference for sweet notes; others prefer a more bitter drink.
Although the perception and taste varies from person to person, it seems that music can also affect our perception of the taste of alcohol. At least this is what many scientific studies reveal, the authors report that alcohol tastes different in different music environments, because the human brain is connected some types of frequencies, tempos, harmonies and timbres and different qualities.
A group of European researchers found evidence of this in 2016 after conducting an experiment with 231 beer lovers. They found that volunteers who drank their beer with music playing in the background enjoyed their drink more than those who drank it in silence.
Even more interesting, their perception of pleasure changed depending on the sound they were immersed in. For Felipe Reinoso Carvalho, assistant professor at the University of the Andes and author of the research, it is because music brings out the different aspects of beer.
“Mid- and high frequency ranges are stable music tempos and clear, consistent main harmony – as well as the feeling of happiness music brings – in general makes the brain to feel like a smooth beer,” he said. “But enjoying a beer while listening to sad music, with low frequencies and intensity that makes it complex, can make it taste good. Acidity is associated with and high-pitched, random sounds, like drumming.
In psychology, this is known as the priming effect: fear acts as a cue that leads our mind to “congruent” information, that is, information that satisfies the best to create a perfect connection. For example, music slows down the physiological response (less arousal, faster heart rate, less adrenal secretion), which promotes the emergence of positive emotions.
Therefore, the beer we enjoy in such an atmosphere may seem lighter and sweeter without us knowing it. The effect of music on the perception of the taste of alcohol is certainly not limited to beer: music can also change the way people think about the taste of alcohol depending on the situation it conveys. Adrian North, a professor of psychology at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, came to this conclusion after conducting an experiment in which participants were asked to taste a glass of white or red wine.
The pleasure took place in one of the five rooms – including a “control” room without music – where four different types of music were played constantly: “strong and heavy”, “soft and refined” smooth”, “spicy and refreshing” , “smooth and refreshing”. “. soft”. On average, 37.25% of the volunteers saw their opinion of alcohol change based on the sound of the environment where they found themselves. For example, when participants drank wine while listening to Michael Brook’s “Slow Breakdown,” the wine was perceived as “sweet and delicious.” Similarly, wines tasted in the “strong and heavy” music condition seem to exhibit the same characteristics. Surprisingly, the effect of music in red wine is more pronounced than that of white wine.
So, based on these results, it might be a good idea to carefully choose your playlist when you sit down to a beer, a glass of wine, or a flute of champagne.
