Music induced emotional EEG reactions

Author(s): Gutjahr, L., Kulka, T., Machleidt, W.

Journal/Book: Eeg-Emg-Z Elektroenz Elektrom. 1994; 25: P O Box 30 11 20, D-70451 Stuttgart, Germany. Georg Thieme Verlag. 117-125.

Abstract: Knowing that different emotions show a specific pattern in the EEG we examined the emotional reaction of 13 persons to different pieces of music with a length of four minutes each. The main components of the feelings were fear for Bartok, aggression for Ungvary and joy for Mozart. We put eight persons into the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) who sensed this emotions ''strongly''. Pairwise comparison of Bartok (fear) and Mozart (joy) showed for Bartok more frontal fast alpha-activity and entire alpha-power. Descriptively there is a diminution of temporal and occipital theta- and beta-power. Ungvary (aggression) shows on the frontal area a higher activity at fast and medium alpha-power than Mozart, temporal the entire and slow alpha-power is lower. Furthermore there is a higher beta-power, theta-power and alpha-bandwidth for Ungvary. Pairwise comparison Bartok (fear) - Ungvary (aggression) shows for Ungvary a lower frontal entire alpha-power and more beta-activity and alpha-bandwidth. The effects on the alpha-power for Ungvary for the entire sample are nearly quite as good as for the subgroup who sensed the music more intensively. These findings, correlated with high alpha-, beta-and theta-power, could be a hint of a less conscious aggression, following the theorie of emotions of Machleidt et al. (12). Listening to music provoke strong feelings, which can be seen partly in the EEG-patterns. Maybe in the future the EEG could be a helping instrument for selection of therapeutical music.

Note: Article G Bruggenwerth, Forster Str 38, D-10999 Berlin, Germany

Keyword(s): EEG; Music; Emotion; Consciousness

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