Science Weekly takes on evolutionary psychologist Stephen Pinker's idea that music is merely "auditory cheesecake" - pleasant on the ear but ultimately not much use.
In our Music and the Brain special, James Randerson and the team ask why music evolved, how it is linked to language, how it is understood by the brain and how it can be used to treat patients.
Dr Ian Cross talks about how music acts as a social tool. Dr Eric Clark at Oxford University tells us why dance music has such a profound effect on a club full of revellers. And Paul Robertson, founder and leader of the Medici String Quartet explains music can communicate subtle ideas and help people with Alzheimer's diease. Also, Dr Adena Schachner at Harvard tell us why animals dance.
This week's show was produced by Francesca Panetta and interviews were conducted by BA media fellow Marcus Pearce.
Music taken from NI 5389 & NI 1785 courtesy of Nimbus Records.
