The CBU recently ran an online experiment in cooperation with the BBC Radio 4 show The Human Zoo.

“The Human Zoo explores the foibles, quirks and behaviour of that most fascinating of species – us!”

Familiarity breeds contempt, as the saying goes. But psychologists say that repetition does something powerful to our appreciation of everything we hear – be it music, comedy or a political speech. The first time you hear a piece of music you may like it, you may hate it, you may be indifferent. Listen again and then again, and the chances are it will grow on you. It becomes familiar, enjoyable. Matt Davies from the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit interviewed. Available to listen again here (interview starts around 9 minutes in).