Music is a universal language across cultures and civilisations. The importance of music was identified as early as 1835 when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow declared, “Music is the universal language of mankind” (Longfellow, 1835). In a recent study from Harvard (Mehr et al. Science 2019), they studied traditional music from different parts of the world and showed wide variations in rhythm, language, and tonicity of music among cultures but a similar emotional and cognitive response to music across cultures. They found that, across societies, music is associated with behaviours such as infant care, healing, dance, and love. Music can evoke robust emotional responses, including pleasure, nostalgia, sadness, upliftment, and excitement. Positive emotions dominate musical experiences. It has been shown that pleasurable music releases the neurotransmitter Dopamine, associated with reward response. It is the same neurotransmitter released in response to Love and affection, academic or athletic reward response, and even in response to social media likes. Enjoyment of music appears to involve the same pleasure centres in the brain that are involved in other pleasurable activities like food, sex and drugs (Gebauer L et al. 2012).
Understanding Brain Waves in Response to Music
Brain waves are vital in regulating our cognitive and emotional processes, acting as the orchestrators of brain activity. These rhythmic electrical patterns reflect the synchronised communication between neurons and hold profound significance in understanding our mental states, attention, memory, problem-solving, and emotional experiences. By studying brain waves, we can uncover the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive responses and emotions, leading to advancements in neuroscience and psychology and developing techniques like neuro-feedback to enhance emotional well-being. Brain waves offer a remarkable gateway to comprehend and influence our inner workings. Brain waves are studied using an Electroencephalogram (EEG), which records electrical activity in different brain parts using electrodes applied to the scalp. The wave pattern is then analysed. Broadly there are four main types of waves.
Alpha waves have a frequency between 8-13 Htz and are seen in healthy awake adults while resting with eyes closed.
Beta waves have a frequency of 13-30 Htz. They replace alpha waves during attention to tasks or actions. They are common while concentrating or when one is under stress.
Theta waves have a frequency between 4-7.9 Htz. They are most common in children and appear transiently in adults during sleep. They are also seen in induced Comas or brain infections.
Delta waves are slow waves between 0.1 and 3.9 Ht. They are seen during sleep and also in infants. They are also seen in brain injury, stroke or brain tumours.
The Impact of Music on brain waves
Music significantly impacts the cognitive and emotional aspects of the brain. Earlier, we conducted a study on elderly subjects (>60 Years) staying in old-age elder care homes on the impact of popular Hindi music on short-term memory, heart rate, BP and mood. We used a validated Digit span test for short-term memory testing. The results showed a significant improvement in short-term memory and decreased BP after half-hour of music listening. There was also a visible upliftment in the mood of all subjects, although this was not quantified.
Encouraged by the previous research results, we decided to do a small study to see EEG changes in response to music. A curated set of Indian classical violin music tracks was compiled, and an EEG test was carried out on five adults at the Neurology department of Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi., under the supervision of Dr J D. Mukherjee (Head of Dept, Dept of Neurology). The subjects were asked to stay still; no task was allowed during the recording. Baseline EEG recording was taken initially, after which they listened to the music track using Bluetooth-enabled earbuds for 20 minutes. The same music was played for all subjects. An expert neurologist then analysed baseline EEG and post-music EEG. The study presented exciting results based on the subjects’ preference and frequency of music listening. One of the volunteers was an expert in classical music, while the rest of the four volunteers were unfamiliar with the raag.
All five adults had normal baseline EEG; however, after listening to the music, the brain wave patterns changed in all the individuals. Subject 1, an expert in classical music, showed only a slight change in the brain waves and a burst of beta waves later owing to full attentiveness. However, subjects 2 & 3, who hardly listened to classical music, fell asleep and showed deep sleep patterns. Subjects 4 & 5 were music lovers but not better versed in classical music and showed type-1 sleep patterns where they were relaxed and rested but not in a deep sleep.
Based on the literature survey that validates our observations, it is clear that music changes the brain wave pattern (EEG wave pattern). This can be further analysed to study which type of music elicits what type of response. This information can be used therapeutically to develop specific musical interventions like slow classical melodious music to calm down and decrease anxiety, Fast tempo music to generate enthusiasm and excitement, and regular music intervention to improve short-term memory and cognitive function. Music intervention can also be used for psychological, cognitive, biofeedback, and behavioural therapy.
Once it becomes clear what type of music elicits what type of EEG and mood response, the music can be tailored to help treat mental health conditions. Music is helpful in the treatment of Autism, Parkinsons’ disease, Dementia, and sleep disorders.
Limitations and Future Directions The study was conducted on a very small number of subjects.
A similar study, if done on more subjects, would yield better and more reproducible results. In our study, the subjects could not perform any tasks. We can study cognitive performance’s impact if a dynamic EEG can be used where hand movements do not interfere with the EEG recordings. Our study’s subjects were healthy adults with no underlying neurological problems. If the impact of music can be studied on a selected group of patients with Alzheimer’s, anxiety disorder or Autism, then specific interventions can be planned. Different genres of music can be evaluated to choose the one best suited to a given condition.
Anushka Raj
12th Grade
