Thinking about thinking

Watching an interesting feature about the power of music I wonder if we should focus more on the trivial when researching the functioning of the brain. Why is it, that we can understand non native speakers even if theyr grammar is real bad ? What are the reasons behind such things as different as enjoying music, painting or doing smalltalk ? Maybe we focus way to much on the rational aspects of the brain and should focus more on the irrational, the emotional parts. To me, intelligence is nothing without emotions. But how much influence is there from emotions in the development of the brain. How much influence is there in the correlation of dreaming and intelligence? I deeply believe that dreaming is sort of a repair and learning mechanism, sort of a way to adopt to new experiences by trying out alternatives.