Articles tagged with Music
A recent study analyzing English-language songs from 1980-2020 found that lyrics have become simpler and more repetitive over time. The use of emotionally positive and negative words increased in certain genres, while anger-related words became more common across all styles.
A new study has identified the likely origin of tone deafness in the brain, finding that strokes causing amusia affect the right hemisphere and a specific region called the superior temporal gyrus. This discovery highlights the differences between processing music and language in the brain, with implications for diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers analyzed Beethoven's DNA to investigate his genetic musical predisposition, finding an unremarkable polygenic score compared to population samples. The study suggests that while DNA contributes to musical skills, environment plays a key role in musical ability and engagement.
A recent article recommends measuring meaningful outcomes such as pain interference, self-efficacy, and physical functioning to improve the evidence-base for music therapy within sickle cell disease populations. Music therapists can play an important role in chronic pain management by addressing stress, depressed mood, and loneliness.
Researchers developed a model predicting aesthetic chills with 73.5% accuracy, using data from 2,937 people and emotional stimuli clips. Factors such as personality traits, demographics, and contextual conditions were found to correlate with high probabilities of experiencing chills.
A global study finds that people from different cultures favor simple integer ratios in music rhythms, but with varying degrees of bias. The research team gathered data from 39 groups across 15 countries and found a degree of universality in music perception and cognition.
Researchers at University of California - San Francisco have developed a precise map of what is happening in the brain’s auditory cortex when someone hears a melody. The study found that some aspects of music are entwined with how we understand speech, while other important aspects stand alone. The brain uses two sets of neurons to ass...
A new poll of people aged 50 to 80 found that nearly all older adults say music helps relieve stress and improve their mental health. The study also revealed that music plays a significant role in social connections and brain health, with 98% of respondents benefiting from engaging with music.
A new study reveals that music activates the autonomic nervous system, causing shivers down the spine, regardless of culture. The research found that emotional music triggers specific bodily sensations across Western and Asian listeners, suggesting a universal response to music-induced emotions.
A new study published by experts at the University of Exeter found that playing a musical instrument is associated with improved memory and executive function in older adults. Continuing to play into later life provides even greater benefit, suggesting that music could be a way to harness cognitive reserve.
A KAIST research team led by Professor Hawoong Jung identified the principle behind musical instincts emerging from the human brain without special learning using an artificial neural network model. The study found that cognitive functions for music forms spontaneously as a result of processing auditory information received from nature.
A recent study published in Cerebral Cortex found that participants exposed to 18-Hz beta binaural beats had significantly higher accuracy and faster response times during comprehension tasks. This suggests that binaural beat stimulation at this frequency may be a potential tool for improving language skills.
A new software algorithm intelligently combines vocals and instrumentals from different songs, mimicking professional music composition techniques. The result is a unique blend of pleasing lyrics and exciting instrumentals that appeal to listeners, particularly hip-hop fans.
A recent study has uncovered a remarkable connection between individuals' musical preferences and their moral values, shedding light on the influence of music on morality. The research found that specific lyrics and audio features from favorite songs can predict moral values such as Care and Fairness and Loyalty.
Researchers found that newborn babies can perceive a beat in music due to an innate cognitive mechanism active at birth. The study used EEG measurements and manipulated drum rhythms to distinguish between learning the order of sounds and recognizing a beat.
A study published in Nature Communications found that music-evoked emotions create boundaries between episodes, making them easier to remember. Fluctuating emotions help form separate and durable memories, even from neutral experiences. The research has great therapeutic promise for helping people with PTSD and depression.
Researchers use modern computing methods to analyze cultural artifacts, such as paintings and stories, to uncover psychological data about past societies. These findings provide valuable clues about the effects of psychological shifts, including changes in social trust and empathy.
A new study will test a two-step music therapy intervention to reduce pain, anxiety, and depression in veteran patients. The research aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of step 1 music listening and step 2 music imagery interventions.
Listening to preferred music reduces pain intensity and unpleasantness, while emotional responses play a key role in predicting its effect. The study found that moving or bittersweet emotional themes are associated with lower pain ratings.
A study investigated how algorithms compare to human judgment in music plagiarism disputes, with mixed results. While algorithms matched human decisions in 83% of cases, they struggled with non-musical factors and controversy surrounding high-profile cases.
Fruit flies use a unique toggle-switch in their brains to switch between solo and mating songs, exchanging information through dialogue. Researchers decoded the tiny brains' behavior using neural imaging and AI, providing insights into complex brain decision-making.
A study of 132 people found that classical music induces synchronisation in physical responses among concert audience members. Personality traits such as agreeableness and openness are associated with increased likelihood of synchronisation. Synchronisation was observed in movement, heart rate, breathing rate, and skin conductivity.
A study of Music Together program found increased conversational turns and parent verbal quality in participants, suggesting community-based music programs as a promising population-level intervention for infancy. Future work should include broader populations to generalize results.
In a study of over 5,000 people from 49 countries, Yale researchers found that love songs were the only genre not universally recognized. Despite this, listeners accurately identified dance and lullabies across cultures.
Researchers found that playing a lullaby reduced pain levels in newborn infants undergoing a heel prick blood test. The study, published in Pediatric Research, suggests that recorded music may be an effective method of pain relief in newborns during minor procedures.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a gene switch that uses sound waves to trigger insulin release in designer cells. The system works by embedding an ion channel protein from the bacterium E. coli into human cells, which opens in response to sound, causing insulin vesicles to fuse and release insulin.
Research from Bar-Ilan University reveals a link between music collection and improved listening experience, suggesting that users can enhance their enjoyment by actively curating their playlists within streaming apps. The studies also found that the act of collecting music is pleasant and can elevate listening levels.
Scientists successfully reconstructed recognizable versions of Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1' using nonlinear modeling to decode brain activity. The study identified a unique region in the Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG) responsible for rhythm perception, with electrodes from this region crucial for accurate reconstruct...
Researchers at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center implemented a quality improvement initiative to improve documentation consistency and increase the capture of patient-reported outcomes. The findings show that music therapists' rates of capturing PROs increased significantly, with notable improvements in stress, pain, anxiet...
A Northwestern University-led team developed the first 3D simulations of energy rippling from a massive star's core to its outer surface. The researchers determined how much stars should innately twinkle and converted these waves into sound waves, allowing listeners to hear both what the insides of stars and their twinkling sound like.
A study found that babies watching live music had higher heart rates and were more engaged than those watching recordings, even with identical audio. The researchers tracked the babies' responses using heart monitors and tablets, and noted that the live performance captured their attention for 72% of the show.
A new study from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center describes the scope and integration of their music therapy program within10 UH medical centers. The study examined 14,261 music therapy sessions provided to 7,378 unique patients who had been referred by 1,169 healthcare professionals.
Children do better at maths when music is integrated into lessons, with integrated lessons having the biggest effect on improving scores. Music helps more with learning arithmetic and has a bigger impact on younger pupils.
Researchers applied machine learning to brain responses and achieved near-perfect classification accuracy for songs that may become hits. The approach, called 'neuroforecasting,' uses data from a small group of people to predict population-level effects without needing to measure the brain activity of hundreds of people.
A recent study suggests that songs with high energy and positive emotions are more likely to match prevailing weather conditions, influencing listener preferences. The research found a strong association between energetic and positive music and warm and sunny weather, but only for popular songs.
Researchers surveyed over 2,000 people on their musical taste, revealing distinct sub-genre preferences within popular genres like rock, pop, and metal. The study identified three taste classes that preferred different levels of complexity in music, with age and personality traits influencing individual preferences.
A pilot study at the University of Eastern Finland found that background music reduced dental students' stress levels and improved their performance during preclinical tooth preparation exercises. The music also increased motivation to learn and practice, while enhancing communication and quality of cavity preparation.
Acoustic artist Colin Malloy transforms ocean data into captivating percussion songs, raising awareness about the impact of oil production on oceans. His music aims to encourage listeners to reflect on the issues surrounding oceans, leveraging the power of art to digest information on an emotional level.
Researchers have found that hearing aid users are dissatisfied with the sound quality of music when using their hearing aids. However, some manufacturers' music programs have improved significantly. The team tested 200 recordings and found that two brands stood out in terms of music quality.
A new pilot study suggests rhythmic auditory stimulation can improve walking speed and quality of movement in children with severe acquired brain injuries. The technique, tested for the first time in this population, has been shown to facilitate smoother and more coordinated walking patterns.
A new study found that music therapy significantly reduced pain, stress, and anxiety in patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms at community hospitals. The study, published in Pain Reports, suggests that music therapy can be effective for acute pain management across various adult populations.
A global study found that tonal language speakers are better able to discern between subtly different melodies, while non-tonal speakers are better able to tell whether a rhythm is beating in time with the music. Tonal speakers actually perform worse on rhythm perception tasks.
An analysis of popular song recordings from 1946 to 2020 found a significant decrease in the lead vocal to accompaniment ratio, indicating that lead singers are getting quieter. Changes in music technology appear to be behind this trend until 1975.
Researchers debunk rock'n'roll myth, finding narcotics have no effect on inspiration. Instead, complex training programs, meditation, and cultural exposure boost creativity. Training that highlights mental techniques has long-term impacts, while mindfulness activities like meditation also improve imagination in the short term.
A researcher has converted elements' visible light into audio, creating complex sounds for each one. The project aims to create an interactive musical periodic table with potential value as an alternative teaching method in chemistry classrooms.
A pilot study found that patients who listened to their favorite music experienced reduced nausea severity and distress. Music was believed to affect serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter associated with chemotherapy-induced nausea, in a way that could complement medication.
A new study by University of Vienna psychologists debunked the Mozart effect myth, finding no reliable evidence for symptom relief in epilepsy patients. The researchers attribute this alleged effect to selective reporting, small sample sizes, and inadequate research practices.
A new spider genus, Abba transversa, has been discovered in Australia, featuring distinctive dark spots and thick macrosetae on the legs. The genus was named after the Swedish pop group ABBA and is the result of a comprehensive study of orb-weaving spiders.
Researchers propose using brain scans to measure similarity in trademark cases, reducing inconsistencies and bias. This approach provides a reliable method for determining similarity without relying on subjective surveys or expert opinions.
A study by Yuan Shi found that changes in Billboard magazine's chart rankings, taking into account consumer voice, resulted in a surge of crossover music. Country artists like Taylor Swift and Maren Morris successfully blended genres, leveraging consumer power to achieve mainstream success.
A recent study of 711 adults found that listening to music significantly reduced stress levels and improved mood during the COVID-19 lockdown. The research suggests that music listening was particularly beneficial for individuals with elevated chronic stress during the pandemic, providing a mental health coping mechanism.
A recent study at the University of Helsinki found that singing-based group rehabilitation can increase communication and speech production in stroke survivors, while also reducing social isolation. The study's results suggest that this type of rehabilitation could be a valuable addition to existing aphasia treatment protocols.
A new study found that music therapy resulted in clinically significant reductions in pain and anxiety for patients with cancer and sickle cell disease. Patients with SCD who received music therapy also reported significantly higher pain and anxiety at baseline compared to those without SCD.
Researchers aim to understand songwriting teams' dynamics, collaboration, and diversity. The study explores how songwriting camps in UK and Germany work, with a focus on creative, legal, financial, and collaborative levels.
Researchers have developed a text-to-audio model that can generate coherent and relevant music and sound from text, opening up new avenues for creative application and exploration. The model employed data compression methods to improve output quality and reduce training time.
Blackbird Studio C's ambient-anechoic portmanteau, ambichoic, reduces sound reflections, creating a balanced and immersive space for musicians and engineers. The studio's unique design utilizes primitive root diffusers to diffuse sound energy, resulting in a comfortable and engaging environment.
A new app uses customized playlists to console, relax, and uplift users, aiming to improve emotional states. The app's creators found that relaxing and uplifting methods can significantly move listeners from negative to more positive emotional states.
A study by Aarhus University researchers found that expert jazz musicians store linked audio and motor representations in the brain, which are drawn upon to create improvisations. These improvisation vocabularies vary between players and exhibit stylistically appropriate and novel characteristics, hallmarks of creativity.
A pooled data analysis estimates that 24% of teens and young people engage in unsafe listening practices from personal listening devices and 48% attend loud music venues. This translates to a potential risk of hearing loss for 0.67-1.35 billion young people worldwide.
Researchers from Aarhus University found that seal pups can distinguish and react differently to various rhythms. This study provides a significant step forward in understanding human musicality and language development.