An Investigation of Psychological and Physiological Changes Apparently Elicited by Musical Stimuli

Abstract

The dissemination of music to captive audiences is rapidly increasing. Little is yet known about the effects of listening to music; therefore persons responsible for subjecting the whole population of a specific environment to the effects of listening act in ignorance of the nature of these effects. Music therapy is widely used as an adjunct to other forms of therapy. Literature on this subject suggests that music therapy is empirically based, and that there is absence of desire and attempt among therapists to examine objectively the effects of listening to music, and to put this particular application of music on a scientifically valid basis. In this study, educational and environmental influences affecting listening attitudes are considered. The physical components of sound, and their psychological effects, are discussed. Communication through the medium of music is analysed so that non-musician readers may become informed about aims, concepts and skills in musical activity. Experiments designed to elicit information about the psychological and physiological effects of listening to music are described. The performance of subjects in a subsidiary task, during listening to music of various levels of predictability, was examined. Non-musicians scored well during predictable music, indicating that they had more free mental channel capacity than during unpredictable music. It was thought that, rather than being more relaxed, they might have been at a higher level of general arousal during listening to predictable music than during unpredictable music. Confirmation of this theory was sought from physiological measures. Electromyographic gradients proved unreliable. Electrocardiograms provided evidence of sinus arrhythmia; the significantly low level of this during predictable music confirmed that non-musicians were more highly aroused during predictable music than during silence. It appeared, also, that arousal was higher during predictable than unpredictable music. The application of these results in situations involving "applied" music were considered.