eli5: why do we know a note is off key even when we’ve never heard the piece of music before?

Question

Whenever I hear someone play an instrument, I can always tell when they’ve played the wrong note even if it’s my first time hearing it, why is that?

In: Other

Answer 1

There are different tonic scales throughout the world. If you grew up listening to the music that uses for example the western tonic scales, your brain remembers.
What makes this so interesting is, we have a neuron that fires for every note. When a note in the scale is played in the wrong place, it leaves you with an unresolved feeling due to your neuron program.

Edited to finish typing due to busted phone.