Prolonged exposure to high-resolution music with inaudible high-frequency components increases high-alpha and low-beta EEG powers and a feeling of relaxation
-
1
Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Japan
Aim: Listening to high-quality digital sounds in which inaudible high-frequency components (above 20 kHz) are kept intact has been shown to affect psychophysiological states compared with listening to similar sounds in which the high-frequency components are removed (e.g. CD, MP3 format sound). In a previous study, we showed that 200-s of exposure to high-quality sounds increased the alpha-band power (10.5-13 Hz) in the electroencephalogram (EEG), whereas subjective and autonomic measures did not differ from the sounds without high-frequency components. The present study tested whether a longer exposure to high-quality sounds has better effects on psychophysiological states. Method: The study was conducted by using a double-blind method. Twenty-six participants listened to two versions of a 400-s musical excerpt with or without high-frequency components while performing a visual vigilance task. The presentation order of the two excerpts was counterbalanced among the participants. EEG, heart rates and skin conductance levels were recorded during task performance. After listening to each excerpt, the participants were asked to rate the sound quality and their mood states. Results: High-alpha (10.5–13 Hz) and low-beta (13-20 Hz) EEG powers were greater for the excerpt with high-frequency components than for the excerpt without them. The reaction time and error rates in the vigilance task did not differ between the excerpts, so the EEG results are not attributable to a reduced arousal level of the listeners. The subjective rating of relaxation was higher after listening to the excerpt with high-frequency components, although the perceived sound quality and autonomic measures did not differ between the excerpts. Conclusion: Prolonged listening to high-quality sounds with inaudible high-frequency components not only induces EEG changes but also increases a subjective feeling of relaxation. The increase in high-alpha and low-beta band EEG powers suggests that listening to high-quality sounds may produce a relaxed attentional state.
Keywords:
Music,
Sound,
Electroencephalogram,
Relaxation,
Alpha power,
beta power,
Autonomic Nervous System,
sound quality
Conference:
Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Inc, Coffs Harbour, Australia, 26 Nov - 28 Nov, 2014.
Presentation Type:
Poster
Topic:
Psychophysiology
Citation:
Kuribayashi
R and
Nittono
H
(2014). Prolonged exposure to high-resolution music with inaudible high-frequency components increases high-alpha and low-beta EEG powers and a feeling of relaxation.
Conference Abstract:
Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Inc.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2014.216.00028
Copyright:
The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers.
They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters.
The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated.
Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed.
For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions.
Received:
14 Oct 2014;
Published Online:
02 Dec 2014.
*
Correspondence:
Mr. Ryuma Kuribayashi, Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8521, Japan, emusion.grooving@gmail.com