2014 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 5-14
[Objectives] We conducted this study to determine how the subjects would respond mentally and physiologically to music, measuring the cerebral blood flow and various parameters related to the autonomic nervous system, and the findings were analyzed. The investigator who made these measurements had previously well comprehended the theory of music(what meaning the rhythm, organization of tone, tune and melody have). The subjects included 10 students(sex : female, mean age : 20 years).
[Methods] The music piece chosen was “For Elise”(4 minutes)by Beethoven. This music piece takes the ternary form(A rondo form : A-B-A-C-A). This form is characterized by progression in a cycling manner with the motif A incorporating the development parts B and C. Both before and after listening to music, one each resting phase lasting one minute was placed. As the musical instrument, a digital piano was used. Measuring methods : Cerebral activities while the subjects were listing to music were measured by the near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS). For ECG recordings, subjects were applied with Mem-Calc/Tarawa, and heart rate variability(HRV)was recorded. The spectral analysis was done to determine HF amp. and LF/HF ratio. The correlation between these physiological response as measured by this method and the component elements of music was studied.
[Results] Individual differences were seen in the findings obtained. However, in general a tendency as described below was seen. With respect to the motif, at the cadence phase of its final stage the sympathetic nervous system became less active, with the parasympathetic nervous system predominating. These findings may indicate that subjects were relaxed. During the development phases of B and C, the parasympathetic nervous system was activated and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system decreased. Thus, the subjects seemed to be in a comfortable state during these development phases. From the analysis of these findings, we considered that the musical elements constituting the motif produced a feeling of relief and a world of harmony in subjects. On the other hand, the change in tone in the development phase provided a feeling of refreshment and expectation to the listeners. As to the cerebral blood flow, the response to listening to music appeared after occurrence of changes in the autonomic nervous system. Increase in the cerebral blood flow was seen at the final stage of the motif. This increase was still observed even after the resting phase started. It is considered from these findings that the brain activities go on incorporating and classifying various information.
[Discussion] It takes a little more than four minutes to perform this music, and we found that it has a deep complicated structure. When the tune moves, there is some unnoticed manipulation of sound unique to Beethoven. Beethoven created harmoniously unified world by combining simple but beautiful materials as if he had woven a fabric. It is conceivable that the accumulation of such kind of technique shook the depth of paradoxical human psychology, ultimately attracting audience to his musical world. Musical compositions have two functions : straining and loosening of human heart.
