A Study on Changes in Physiological Responses during Music Stimulation

Abstract

Objectives：To study antitonic effects of music on the severely handicapped persons, we carried out basic experiments in music selection and determination of timing of music stimulation.

Methods：Music numbers fitting the above purpose were selected and delivered as stimuli to 30 healthy girl students aged 19.77years(mean) during 15 min, while their physiological responses were continuously measured on the pulse rate, respiration rate and skin temperatures of the back of the right hand and the right side of the neck. Furthermore, the subjects’, individual emotions during the experiment were asked through semi-structured interviews. The obtained data on the physiological responses and emotions were analyzed and compared between the stimulation phase when the girls listened to music and the non-stimulation phase when they listened to no sound.

Results and Discussion : The mean temperature of the back of the right hand in the stimulation phase was significantly lower(p<0.001)than in the non-stimulation phase. The pulse rate in the non-stimulation phase was significantly higher (p<0.001) than in the stimulation phase. The subjects’ emotions were stable in the stimulation phase,and unstable in the non-stimulation phase. As these facts indicate, properly selected music stimuli delivered for an appropriate time could produce antitonic effects on the severely handicapped,both mentally and motorically.