Articles tagged with Music
A study published in Addiction Neuroscience found that music therapy reduces cravings and alters brain activity in people with substance use disorders. The therapy was shown to improve emotional regulation and reduce negative emotions, providing encouraging evidence for its role in addiction treatment.
Researchers found that viewing natural landscapes with VR and listening to classical music reduced patients' blood pressure and anxiety. The study showed significant reductions in blood pressure and anxiety levels after 15 minutes, with no further significant difference after 60 minutes.
A Northwestern University study found that 20 minutes of calming music significantly improves clinician energy levels and mood, increasing from 56% to 83% after the intervention. The music, designed to slow brain activity and promote relaxation, may provide an easy and practical way to support clinicians' wellbeing.
Researchers found that music produced a distinct reorganization of communication between auditory regions and key stress-related areas, including the insula and thalamus. Music was associated with improved positive mood and faster physiological recovery from acute stress.
Drexel researchers found converging evidence for three mechanisms that contribute to music-based interventions' effectiveness, including selecting personal music and engaging with it. The study emphasizes the need for more research into music's effects on pain, particularly in individuals with chronic pain.
The book 'Power in Listening: The Sounding Out! Reader' explores how sound and listening shape our daily lives, culture, and political systems. It features 30 revised and expanded essays on topics such as sound and racial privilege, memoir as method, and popular culture, drawing on experiences from artists, activists, and scholars.
A Drexel University study analyzing 26 songs written by cancer survivors during music therapy sessions found that music therapy helped reduce anxiety and identified themes such as prioritizing self-care and redefining identity. The study also highlighted the importance of music-based strategies for managing mental health and well-being.
Research using fMRI scans shows that music and speech activate the same brain regions associated with imagination and meaning, leading to shared neural representations of imagined narratives. On average, 71% of participants matched the consensus story for each musical excerpt.
A cross-sectional study in US traffic fatalities found a significant association between major music album releases and increased traffic fatalities, potentially attributed to distracted driving. The study suggests that online music streaming through smartphones may contribute to this risk.
A global study of 68 specialist music programs across 25 countries reveals a spectrum of approaches to supporting musically gifted children. The research highlights the need for balancing artistic excellence with genuine care for children, with some programs prioritizing institutional prestige over child well-being.
Researchers recreated melodies from brain activity of people imagining song continuations using electrocorticography. Brain signals revealed pitches of notes in imagined musical melodies, enabling pitch prediction and structure analysis.
A new paper reveals a live concert and lecture series improves emotional well-being, intellectual stimulation, and social interaction among dementia patients. Participants reported high satisfaction and improved mood following sessions.
The renowned jazz musician and teacher Terence Blanchard has been awarded the Gutenberg Teaching Award for his exceptional contributions to music education. The award is worth EUR 10,000 and recognizes Blanchard's promotion of an experimental and egalitarian teaching environment.
A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that the time it takes for a therapist and patient to reach peak heart-rate synchrony during a music therapy session is around 25 minutes. This suggests that therapy sessions may need to allow sufficient time for this synchronization to develop.
A new book explores how prestigious classical music programmes in Europe, such as the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music and Sibelius Academy, reflect notions of male genius and national character. Researchers found that contemporary teaching prioritizes promoting national composers and sound ideals, while also reproducing traditional methods.
A new study from the University of Jyväskylä explores how people's relationship with music affects their emotional experiences. The research found that songs used to evoke emotions, experience emotions, and express identity tend to elicit more mixed emotions.
A new study maps music and chanting at football stadiums in various countries, showing significant differences in sound and purpose. In England, spontaneous collective singing drives stadium sound, while in Germany, organized and sustained rhythms dominate the atmosphere.
A study found that school anthems referencing local mountains, such as Mt. Takao, correlate with the use of nearby green spaces for educational activities. This suggests a potential link between symbolic cultural representations and concrete actions in nature-related education.
Researchers at Acoustical Society of America identified hickory wood as the best alternative to expensive Honduran rosewood for making marimbas. Hickory wood has a similar acoustical response to rosewood and is significantly less expensive, making it an affordable option for schools and students.
The new computational violin simulates the physics of string interaction with air, producing realistic sound. Luthiers can tweak parameters like wood type or body thickness before hearing the instrument's response.
A new Cornell University study reveals that social media boycotts have less impact on music streams than platform sanctions. In several high-profile controversies, scandal-related attention coincided with short-term increases in streams. However, when platforms reduced visibility of the artists' music, clearest declines appeared.
A study of 1,200 musicians in five countries reveals the 'streaming paradox': while artists are more visible than ever, meaningful income remains elusive. Musicians face growing pressure to create engaging content and manage their online presence.
A decade-long analysis reveals a significant gap in solo female Irish artists reaching number one on charts, but data-driven intervention has led to a shift in Brit Awards nominations. The study highlights the impact of commercial mechanisms like airplay on public recognition and industry trends.
Researchers at Kyoto University's EHUB center analyzed the musical performances of a 26-year-old male chimpanzee named Ayumu. The study found that Ayumu's instrumental sound-making was not random and exhibited isochronous intervals, similar to a metronome.
A new Edith Cowan University study investigates the positive impact of community music education programs in regional Australia on the wellbeing of adolescents and young adults. The study found that CMEPs satisfy psychological needs relatedness, competency, and autonomy, promoting human flourishing.
A new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that listening to harmonically consonant chord progressions during face-to-face interaction strengthens neural activity in brain areas associated with social perception, emotional processing, and interpersonal connection. This suggests that music may help promote social bonding...
Researchers analyzed 4,000 medieval trope elements to find that political borders severely restricted musical exchange between 9th-14th century empires. The study reflects the musical tradition's connection to Europe's political fragmentation following the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD.
A comparative effectiveness study found that lower music volume levels in group fitness classes did not significantly impact perceived exercise intensity. The research suggests implementing safer sound practices and increased awareness on hearing protection to minimize the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
Researchers developed a digital safeguard, My Music My Choice, to protect songs from generative AI cloning. The tool adds imperceptible changes to a song's waveform, making it difficult for AI models to replicate.
A large review of studies found no consistent effect of music on focus or mood during exercise, with results varying depending on intensity and participant characteristics. The findings suggest that broad claims about music's benefits are not always supported and highlight the need for more rigorous study designs.
Researchers found caterpillars mimic ant signals using precise rhythmic beats to gain acceptance, feeding, and protection. The most ant-dependent species produce regular, complex rhythms similar to those used by ants.
A new Surrey study found that rediscovered music often leads to radically different interpretations by performers, reshaping the work itself. The researchers compared professional recordings and used audio analysis software to track tempo and rhythmic fluctuation across the piece.
A recent study reveals that creators who disclose using AI face negative judgments from others, despite their reputation. This gap between technological capability and social perception highlights the need for creators to manage perceptions surrounding how their work was created.
Researchers found that the visual design of a concert hall significantly affects perceived timbre, with more saturated colors producing colder sounds. Listeners also reported higher liking scores in darker environments, highlighting the importance of considering visual appearance in acoustic design.
People can use the musical context to predict what will happen next and feel emotions such as anxiety or happiness. Research shows that using more context improves accuracy in tasks such as remembering chunks of music and predicting the next notes.
Researchers at PolyU have discovered that combining music and empathetic speech in robots can foster a stronger bond between humans and machines. Music enhances the emotional resonance of on-screen robots, making interactions feel more real, but its impact diminishes over time.
Researchers found that newborns as young as 2 days old can anticipate rhythmic patterns, indicating an innate ability to recognize rhythm. However, they struggled to predict melodic changes, suggesting that melody may be learned through exposure.
Researchers developed an EEG-based system to decode pleasure from listener's brain activity and suggest personalized playlists. The system outperformed 'acoustics-only' methods, capturing neural markers of pleasure with high accuracy.
A new book, 'Music and Political Imprisonment in Pinochet’s Chile', exposes the brutal realities of torture during the dictatorship through the power of music. Survivors like Ana María Jiménez recount how they used songs to comfort each other and resist their captors.
Playing soothing live music in NICUs helps babies lower heart rate and respiratory rate while increasing feeding volume. Music sessions also provide a moment's respite for parents, allowing them to bond with their baby.
The album marks a new era for the singer, exploring themes of performance, love, and empowerment. Scholars analyze Swift's shift from teen country singer to showgirl persona, finding optimism and hope in songs like 'Eldest Daughter' and 'Opalite'.
An analysis of popular song lyrics from 1973 to 2023 found that they have become simpler, more negative, and contain more stress-related words. The study suggests that music is used as a form of escapism during stressful periods, leading to a shift towards more positive and complex lyrics.
A study by Shimpei Ikegami found that vertical 'bop' music is characterized by clearer beats and percussive sounds, while horizontal 'sway' music is smoother with less percussion. Listeners' directional dancing inclinations matched the musicians' intended expressions.
Researchers found that famous singers in the UK/Europe and North America died an average of 4 years earlier than those not in the spotlight. The effects of fame are comparable to other known health risks, such as smoking, which confers a heightened risk of death.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that people's spontaneous eye blinks synchronize with musical beats, indicating a deep coordination between hearing and action. This discovery sheds light on how our brains process rhythm and could lead to new treatments for neurological conditions affecting body movement.
Terence Blanchard, a renowned jazz musician and composer, has received the 2025 Gutenberg Teaching Award for his exceptional teaching and mentorship. He will be visiting Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz to accept the award and participate in various events.
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that early sound exposure significantly affects brain activity and emotional preferences in mice. Male mice develop strong behavioral changes when exposed to Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 or silence, while female mice show varied preferences.
Kobe University's new web application combines quantum game theory with jazz improvisation to explore creativity. Users can interact in a 'quantum jam session', receiving real-time visual and auditory feedback on their strategies.
Researchers found that brain activity corresponds to perceived beat when listening to music via sound but not through touch. This ability is crucial for human social interactions through music and may be strengthened by long-term practice.
A new study by University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers found that traditional Okinawan songs contain records of past climate and geological events, including wind directions and volcanic eruptions. The songs, passed down through generations, were analyzed in conjunction with Western scientific knowledge to identify matches.
Researchers found that recalling positive autobiographical memories before a performance enhances valence and arousal, leading to improved performance. This is attributed to increased sympathetic nervous system activity, which regulates involuntary bodily functions.
New research shows that music therapy significantly decreases heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and patient-ventilator asynchronies for patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU). Music therapy is a safe, low-cost, non-pharmacological intervention that complements conventional treatments.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet found that music training strengthens the brain's ability to focus under distracting conditions. Musical people were better at using top-down attention while being less sensitive to bottom-up distractions.
A study of 40,000 users over 15 years found that musical taste becomes more refined and personal with age, with younger listeners exploring a wide range of contemporary music and older listeners returning to their youth favorites. Nostalgia is a strong driving force in middle age and beyond.
A new study found that vibrato is the most significant vocal attribute in determining an opera singer's score, while acoustic features like SPR and HNR have a greater impact than previously thought. The research provides objective insights into how judges evaluate performances and offers tools for vocal training.
A study by the University of Jyväskylä analyzed 176 national anthems, finding that those from equatorial countries tend to be more energetic while those from northern regions are more melancholic. The happiest anthems originate from Western Sahara and China, while the saddest can be found in Japan and Israel.
Researchers found that joyful and soft music alleviated motion sickness symptoms the most, while sad music was less effective than doing nothing. The study suggests that music can be a non-invasive and personalized intervention strategy for managing motion sickness.
A new study reveals that blood pressure synchronizes more with predictable phrase structures in music, potentially improving the body's ability to regulate blood pressure. Predictable music structures were found to have a bigger impact on blood pressure than tempo or loudness.
A new UCLA study found that the optimal level of emotional response while listening to music influences memory, with too little or too much arousal having opposite effects. Music can become a powerful therapeutic tool for improving learning and memory in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and PTSD.
Research finds that young children aged 3-5 can recognize happiness, sadness, calmness, and fear in music. However, children with higher callous-unemotional traits show poorer emotion recognition in music compared to facial expressions.