MUSIC FOOD FOR THOUGHT

PEOPLE who listen to Jeff Buckley are likely to be empathetic while Metallica fans are more analytical, scientists say.

A new study at Cambridge University reveals our music taste gives an insight into the way we think.

‘Empathisers’ – people who like to focus on and respond to the emotions of others – prefer the mellow sounds of country and soft rock. ‘Systemisers’ – those who like to analyse patterns were found to have a leaning to more intense music such as heavy metal.

David Greenberg, a PhD student leading the project, and a jazz saxophonist, hopes the study may help understand autism. By looking for trends in the musical taste of people with autism researchers may be able to learn more about the psychology of conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome.