Your brain on layered music? Dopamine city. When you listen to complex, layered music, your brain releases dopamine—the neurotransmitter tied to pleasure, reward, and motivation. Here’s why it works: Your brain loves figuring out patterns. When music is intricate and layered, your brain gets pleasure from processing all those moving parts. That processing triggers dopamine release. Emotional connection matters. When music hits you emotionally, it activates your brain’s reward pathways. The more