Articles tagged with Music
A meta-analysis of 54 studies found no significant effect of music training on non-music cognitive skills and academic achievement in children. However, certain elements of music instruction may be beneficial for social skills and self-esteem.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS create device that can shape near-field light into various forms using waveguide reflectors. The resulting shapes can be used for ultra-high-resolution microscopy, particle manipulation and sensing applications.
Researchers found that trained musicians showed greater powers of rhythmic prediction compared to nonmusicians, with subtle differences between those trained in Japanese or Western classical music. The study also reveals that different cultural upbringings can have a tangible effect on brain development.
Researchers found that music from this period connects individuals to significant people and places in their identity. Half of all musical choices made by Desert Island Discs guests were from this age range, which was previously known as the 'reminiscence bump'.
A new study found that listeners' musical preferences are driven by the similarity between their personality and that of famous musicians. The 'self-congruity effect of music' suggests that people prefer music from artists with similar public personas, which can evoke feelings of pride and belonging.
Researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School found that Ultra Music Festival was stressful for toadfish, causing a significant stress response and elevated cortisol levels. The study showed a 4-5 fold increase in blood cortisol levels in toadfish during the festival.
A new study found that moving together in time with music increases social closeness between individuals, regardless of their cultural familiarity with the music. The study showed that people who enjoy the music they move to experience stronger social bonds than those who do not.
Researchers found that six-month-old infants could discriminate between major and minor musical tones with eye movements and visual stimuli. This capacity is similar to adults, with approximately 30% of infants able to distinguish the difference and 70% unable to.
A study at Bar-Ilan University found that group drumming fosters both behavioral and physiological synchronization among participants. This synchronization enhances cohesion, predicts a heightened sense of group bonding, and even improves performance in subsequent group tasks.
A new digital archive co-created by University of Warwick researcher Dr Nicola Pratt gathers art, music, and film created during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. The archive includes over 200 items, many translated into English, to help users discover the significance of the uprising and its aftermath.
Researchers created a collection of unique songs with manipulated acoustic information, demonstrating the left and right hemispheres handle speech and melody differently. fMRI scans revealed asymmetrical neural activity, with speech content primarily processed in the left auditory cortex and melodic content in the right.
A study using a cappella recordings revealed that humans have complementary neural systems for speech and music processing. The research found that temporal information is crucial for speech perception, while spectral information is key to music perception. This suggests that hemispheric specialization may be the nervous system's way o...
Researchers at the 2020 APS March Meeting in Denver are exploring the physics of the brain, including brain connectivity networks, the organization of the brain's wiring probability, and the shaping of the cerebellum. Music therapy is also being investigated for its potential benefits for patients with mild cognitive impairment.
A study found that a 15-month-old boy attempted to sing along to 'Happy Birthday' after hearing it played on a toy. The research suggests that babies learn music patterns and rhythms through spontaneous imitation.
A pooled analysis of 14 studies found that text messaging was associated with significantly lower rates of looking left and right before crossing, as well as moderately increased rates of collisions and close calls. Listening to music was not linked to any heightened risk of pedestrian behaviours.
A new study found that listening to high-tempo music while exercising increases physical fitness benefits and reduces perceived exertion, especially during endurance activities like walking. The researchers hope their findings can help people improve and increase exercise habits.
A study finds that music samples evoke similar feelings in both Chinese and US participants, suggesting that specific emotions are more universal than broader evaluations. The research suggests that cultural differences may not be as significant in subjective experiences associated with music.
Researchers found that country music songwriters employ two strategies to co-write songs with less talented but more famous artists: bespoke facilitation, where they take a backseat, and the manipulation dance, where they pre-write most of the song. This approach helps create good songs while avoiding alienating their partner.
Scientists investigate how architectural aspects of workplace design change the way sound, including music and conversation, affect workers. Researchers found that 50 dBA of conversation or music coming from behind bothered individuals less than 60 dBA of similar noise coming from the side.
The Acoustical Society of America and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health launched a campaign to improve Wikipedia content on sound, acoustics, and hearing topics. The Wiki4YearOfSound2020 platform provides guidance and invites users to edit Wikipedia articles and donate images.
Researchers created a system to convert light waves into sound waves by correlating bright lines within atomic spectra to audible tones. This allows for the creation of individual atom notes and even entire songs, enabling listeners to experience an 'atomic world' through sound.
Renée Fleming, acclaimed soprano and neuroscience research advocate, will receive the Isadore Rosenfeld Award for her commitment to research advocacy at the intersection of music, brain function, and wellness. Her work with the Sound Health Initiative enhances public awareness about how the brain interacts with music.
Musicians are at serious risk of developing tinnitus and hearing difficulties primarily due to prolonged exposure to loud noises. The study's findings support industry insiders' long-held concerns about the impact of workplace noise on musicians' hearing.
Researchers analyzed 80,000 chords in 745 classic U.S. Billboard pop songs to find the right combination of uncertainty and surprise that makes music pleasing. The study suggests that musical pleasure depends on the dynamic interplay between prospective and retrospective states of expectation.
A new $1.96 million NIH grant funds a study to curb state of confusion linked to dementia in older adults with mechanical ventilation in ICUs. Researchers will evaluate the effectiveness of slow-tempo classical music in reducing delirium, a form of acute brain failure, in mechanically-ventilated ICU patients age 65 and older.
Listeners prefer songs with balanced uncertain expectations, suggesting a 'reward for learning'. Medium complexity musical fragments with counterbalancing uncertain and predictable events yield the highest preference ratings.
A recent study published in eNeuro has shown that our auditory system and brain can make predictions about words in complex, uncertain, and noisy situations. The study used electroencephalography to analyze the brain waves of volunteers listening to unknown syllables, revealing a phenomenal ability to detect errors in predictions.
Research by Juan Manuel Toro and Carlota Pagès Portabella finds that musical training alters how humans perceive music. Brain scans reveal trained musicians distinguish between different types of musical irregularities, while untrained listeners do not.
A new algorithm, DJ-MC, uses sequence modeling and Monte Carlo search to create personalized music playlists that change according to each individual's shifts in emotion. The program adapts to the listener's mood, considering not only which songs they will enjoy but also the order in which they are played.
Scientific research reveals that music is essential for expressing and enforcing relationships between humans, other beings, and ecosystems. Traditional music-making systems are being eroded due to globalization, but they continue to be honoured and celebrated.
Researchers at Michigan Technological University discovered a long-lost parody of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado' that pokes fun at the rigors of math class in Victorian college culture. The parody, titled 'The Mathematikado,' offers insights into student experiences and gender dynamics.
A new study reveals that listening to music involves activity in sensory regions, while recalling melodies activates frontal regions. The findings suggest a complex network of brain regions involved in music processing.
Researchers found that music chart statistics have changed significantly since the 1990s, with albums now having shorter lifetimes. The diversity of charts has doubled or tripled, and albums either reach the top immediately or never make it.
A preschool program using rhythm and movement activities boosts children's self-regulation skills and improves school readiness. The program, which involves group sessions twice a week for eight weeks, has been shown to produce significant changes in attentional and emotional development.
New research from Penn State suggests that freedom songs sung by Black women helped empower them to lead others when formal leadership positions were unavailable. These songs, which originated in the 1920s or earlier, were altered to reflect the struggles of the time and became a powerful form of resistance.
A new study by Anglia Ruskin University reveals that brain activity synchronises between patients and therapists during music therapy sessions. The breakthrough uses brain hyperscanning to track subtle changes in emotional processing, offering a more precise understanding of the therapeutic impact.
Researchers found music to be as effective as midazolam in lowering anxiety before anesthetic procedures. The study used Marconi Union's 'Weightless' song and noise-canceling headphones to reduce anxiety levels.
A clinical trial suggests music can reduce anxiety before peripheral nerve block, with similar effects as midazolam. However, patients in the music group were less satisfied due to limited music choice, and communication was harder.
Researchers found Snowball's movement diversity is not limited to humans, suggesting an innate ability to respond to music with intentional movements. The study proposes five traits that may explain the shared natural ability to dance in humans and parrots.
Finnish researchers compiled guidelines for international use of music to support spoken language development in hearing-impaired children. Music, particularly singing, benefits the brain and perception of speech and prosody in these children.
Scientists translate amino acid sequences into musical compositions, then use AI to generate new proteins with desired features. The method also enables the creation of bio-based musical pieces.
A new UBC study reveals that upbeat music can increase heart rate and enjoyment during high-intensity interval training (HIIT), making it more appealing to less-active individuals. The research found that motivational music with a fast tempo was particularly effective in enhancing physical and emotional responses to exercise.
Research suggests that strobe lighting at electronic dance music festivals triples the risk of epileptic fits in susceptible individuals. Organisers are advised to issue warnings and provide preventive measures for those with photosensitive epilepsy.
A study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed that humans are more sensitive to pitch than macaque monkeys. The human brain's auditory cortex is more responsive when comparing tonal sounds to equivalent noisy sounds, suggesting that speech and music may have shaped the basic organization of the human brain.
A new study found that pill testing services at music festivals may be most effective in reducing harm for people trying ecstasy for the first time, as they are most cautious after a pill test. However, prior users who are high in sensation seeking are at the greatest risk of harm, even with a pill test. Introducing counselling and dru...
A study found that listening to music at home reduced symptom severity, pain intensity, and fatigue in breast cancer patients. Music therapy also reduced physical and mental fatigue instantly.
Research using functional MRI found that music-based care plans enhanced brain circuit connectivity in preterm infants. This suggests music may improve future socio-cognitive function and prevent brain deficits.
The Radio Me project uses AI to adapt and personalize live radio, providing personalized reminders, information, and music for people with dementia. The system aims to improve quality of life and reduce hospital admissions by up to 30%.
A QUT study found 68% of drivers willing to use apps blocking texting, web browsing, and email, as long as hands-free calls are permitted. However, only 37% were prepared to block all phone use if it meant sacrificing music functions.
A new model demonstrates how a network of neurons can act as a 'neuronal metronome' by accurately estimating time intervals between beats within tens of millisecond accuracy. This framework relies on rhythmic brain activity patterns known as gamma oscillations to keep track of time.
Researchers at the University of Utah Health found that pairing music with pain medications improved analgesic outcomes by up to 90% in mouse models. The study showed significant reductions in inflammation and pain responses, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for managing pain.
A study published in Heliyon found that trained musicians exhibit greater executive control of attention than non-musicians, with improved performance linked to increased years of training. This suggests that musical training can enhance cognitive abilities beyond music-specific skills.
A recent study from the UBC Sauder School of Business found that sleepier consumers tend to buy more diverse types of products to help them stay awake. The study reveals that even after controlling for other factors, sleep-deprived individuals exhibit a greater desire for variety in their shopping choices.
A new study by the University of Missouri found that pop music lyrics contain similar amounts of violence and misogyny as rap and hip-hop. Nearly one-third of popular songs analyzed contained references that degrade or demean women, highlighting the need for parental discussions about tricky lyrics.
Research at McGill University found that musically unexpected events elicit reward prediction errors in the nucleus accumbens, a brain region associated with musical pleasure. This discovery establishes music as a neurobiological reward capable of motivating learning and pleasurable listening experiences.
Combining rock and R&B singers or pop stars and rappers boosts a song's popularity, studies show. The difference between genres increases the likelihood of reaching the top 10 charts.
The study found that the expression of anger in popular music increased gradually over seven decades, peaking in 2015. The expression of sadness, disgust, and fear also increased over time, with joy becoming a milder tone in recent years.
A new study published in PNAS reveals a causal link between dopamine and the reward responses in humans when listening to music. Researchers found that dopamine manipulation led to opposite effects on musical pleasure and motivation, with levodopa increasing hedonic experience and risperidone reducing both.
Researchers found that dopamine precursor levodopa increased hedonic experience and motivational responses, while dopamine antagonist risperidone reduced both. These results suggest that dopamine modulates the reward experiences elicited by music, challenging previous evidence in animal models.
Researchers found that dopamine plays a crucial role in music-evoked pleasure, with levodopa increasing motivation to purchase songs. The study used pharmacological manipulation to alter dopamine levels, revealing its impact on brain reward responses.