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The Biology of Music Humans use music as a powerful way to communicate. It may also play an important role in love. But what is music, and how does it work its magic? Science does not yet have all the answers. What are two things that make humans different from animals? One is language, and the other is music. It is true that some animals can sing . However,the songs of animals, such as birds and whales, are very limited. It is also true that humans, not animals ,have developed musical instruments. Music is strange stuff. It is clearly different from language. However, people can use music to communicate things -- especially their emotions. When music is combined with speech in a song, it is a very powerful form of communication. But, biologically speaking, what is music? If music is truly different from speech, then we should process music and language in different parts of the brain. The scientific evidence suggests that this is true. Sometimes people who suffer brain damage lose their ability to process language. However, they dont automatically lose their musical abilities. For example, Vissarion Shebalin, a Russian composer, had a stroke in 1953. It injured the left side of his brain. He could no longer speak or understand speech. He could, however, still compose music until his death ten years later. On the | 
