Monitor on Psychology - April 2012 - (Page 28)

Questionnaire combine smaller units into larger units. It’s pivotal for combining sounds into words, and we also use it to combine musical notes into a tune. But it’d be silly to say it evolved specifically for music. I think a better analogy for music is reading, which is something almost everyone can do with practice, but it’s only been around 4,000 years and it’s not something that the brain evolved specifically to do. If music isn’t innate, why is it so compelling? I think it’s because music provides two contradictory elements that we find very rewarding. One is familiarity. When we make a prediction and it happens, the brain says, “I got one right here.” So if you have a rhythm track that is repeating, the brain says, “Yeah, that’s good.” On the other hand, we also like novelty. The best music combines those things — repeating a melody, but changing the instrumentation, or having new words. That’s a pretty potent mixture. Plus, music can keep providing those rewards again and again, sustaining your interest over time. Then there are the rewards of playing music. If you get good enough, part of what you’re doing is so automatic, it almost seems magical, like something is coming out of you you’re not controlling. I get a joy from improvising sort of like the joy I get from science. It’s the joy of exploring and discovering new things. n Audio: Click below to listen to Dr. Gary Marcus play the bass guitar with his “Rush Hour” bandmates. Also, Marcus discusses music education on NPR’s “Science Friday” at www.sciencefriday.com/program/ archives/201202105. Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP) • An examination designed for use by psychology licensing authorities to implement laws permitting the prescribing of psychotropic medications by qualified psychologists • Secure and confidential banking of PEP scores for qualified graduates of postdoctoral psychopharmacology educational programs to fulfill exit requirements • Psychopharmacology training programs may use the PEP 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 Phone: (202) 336-6100 • Fax: (202) 336-5797 E-mail: apapocollege@apa.org • Website: apapracticecentral.org 8x5_APACollege_ad.indd 1 3/29/11 9:14:17 AM 28 MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY • APRIL 2012 http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201202105 http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201202105 http://www.apapracticecentral.org http://www.apapracticecentral.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - April 2012

Monitor on Psychology - April 2010
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Internship Shortage Continues
Mental Health Services Remain Scarce at Community Colleges
Apa Weighs in on the Constitutionality of Life Without Parole for Juvenile Offenders
Apa Praises Court’s Support for Equality
New Mobile App Answers Psychologists’ Clinical Questions
Nih Offers Free Web Resources for Psychologist Researchers
New and Improved Psyclink
In Brief
Government Relations Update
Time Capsule
Questionnaire
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Early Career Psychology
Psychologist Profile
Coal Miners’ Dilemma
The Science of Political Advertising
Science Watch
Science Directions
More Support Needed for Trauma Interventions
The Case Against Spanking
Innovative Psychology at the High School Level
Speaking of Education
Apa Divisions Reach Out to New Psychologists
New Journal Editors
A Home Base for Multiple Fields
Division Spotlight
American Psychological Foundation
Awards and Funding Opportunities
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - April 2012