Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
used mainly in video applications and to a lesser degree in measuring emotional
responses to music.
It is well established that emotional processing involves activation of wide
networks of central nervous system (Blood et al. 1999 ; Blood and Zatore 2001 ). In
that vein, several studies have used brain activity measures to explore emotional
responses to music (Koelsch 2005 ; Koelsch et al. 2006 ). An approach taken to
examine emotional processing in brain are EEG experiments during music listening
(see Sect. 6.6 of this chapter). The most commonly used measure is alpha power,
which is considered to be inversely related to cortical activation. When alpha power
in the left frontal hemisphere is contrasted with alpha power in the right frontal
hemisphere, an asymmetry is found depending on the stimulus (Davidson 1988 ).
This frontal asymmetry is linked to emotional valence. Pleasant music induces
greater left frontal activity, whereas unpleasant music leads to greater right frontal
activation.
There are, however, results providing evidence that frontal asymmetry is related
to motivational direction rather than emotional valence. Using EEG measurements,
Davidson et al. ( 1990 ) found substantial evidence for the asymmetric frontal brain
activation. Since then, several EEG studies using various sets of musical stimuli
provided support for the hemispheric specialization hypothesis for emotional
valence (Schmidt and Trainor 2001 ).
In summary, it appears that different measures of emotions are sensitive to
different aspects of emotional states, and therefore, emotion cannot be captured by a
single measure. Emotions are often considered to have different components
(cognitive, behavioral, and physiological). Therefore, multivariate approaches
involving the investigation of various physiological responses could differentiate
among different emotions. Signi
cant progress has been achieved using multivar-
iate approaches. It seems, however, that multivariate approaches should be
broadened to include subjective emotion ratings (self-reports), facial activity
(EMG), autonomic responses (heart and respiration rate, skin conductivity), and
brain activity (EEG). Moreover, models that might explain how various response
systems are coordinated (synchronized) should be also included.
6.6
Physiological Responses to Music
There is a large amount of studies establishing the relationship between physio-
logical responses and musical emotion during music listening (see Hodges 2010 for
a review). Physiological changes during music listening are related to the activation
of the ANS, which regulates a variety of organs and controls somatic processes.
Research on physiological effects of music includes mainly changes in heart rate
(HR), respiration rate (RR), blood pressure (BP), skin conductance (SC),
nger
temperature and muscle tension (EMG). Ongoing brain activation (EEG responses)
is an important physiological response to music related to central nervous system
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search