1538 Pop Hit

I read another interesting scientific study on brain cravings. Turns out our primitive brains like pop hits more than our logical brains like to admit.
So that's why there are so many jazz and classical radio stations...
Ahem.
Researchers played little known pop songs to teenagers and scanned their brains while they were listening. Then they asked the kids what they thought. Often the kids said they didn't think a song was that good. But their brain scans indicated otherwise. Many of those songs lit up the portion of the brain linked to reward and anticipation.
Years later the results were compared to how well the songs actually did on the pop charts. The songs that did the most lighting up did the best. While the songs that were stated as preferred were not so hot.
The scientists tout this as further proof that we may not be aware of, or at least admit, what we like. Research like this is fueling a new field known as neuro-economics to use brain scans to exploit this trend.
Great, just what we need—fMRI Focus Groups.
Really? Thank you science. We like things we don't admit we like. So you mean hot fudge sundaes sell so well for rational reasons? Of course we're not going to admit to primitive urges and cravings. The struggle between unrestricted hedonism and rational restraint is as old as Adam's apple.
Our primitive brains light up in anticipation of all kinds of not-so-good things, ranging from infidelity to porn to booze to deep-fried bacon doughnuts. Heroin too, if we're ever exposed to it at least once. That doesn't mean it's good or right.
Funny. I seem to remember mainline drug users describe the crucial part of their experience using the words "pop" and "hit."
America, ya gotta love it.