Music
Study shows that teenagers' brainwaves can predict chart toppers
by Nicole Villeneuve
June 13, 2011
A new study is showing that the brainwaves of teenagers may be able to predict future chart-topping hits.
Atlanta’s Emory University has found that involuntary neural reactions to pop music in a group of 14 girls and 13 boys between the ages of 12 and 18 years old showed a natural predilection to songs would later sell at least 20,000 copies.
Even if the teens didn’t consciously like the songs on paper, their brainwaves sang another tune. “The punch line is that brain responses correlated with units sold,” said neuro-economist Gregory Berns at Emory’s Center for Neuropolicy, who, along with Emory neuroscientist Sara Moore, was in charge of the study.
Secret’s out, bands trying to break: hire a room full of teens and hope you’re not arrested. [via the Wall Street Journal]
