Articles tagged with Music
A new brain study confirms that practice makes perfect in professional ballet dancers, showing the long-term effects of learning complex dance motor sequences. The study found an inverted 'U' learning pattern, where brain activation increases during initial learning and performance, but then decreases as mastery is achieved.
Researchers identified the inferior parietal cortex as a critical brain area that becomes deactivated when people feel they are being observed, leading to performance mishaps. This 'action-observation network' plays a role in inferring what others think and affects motor actions.
A study found that UK teens, particularly those aged 13-15, are heavily exposed to alcohol and tobacco images and lyrics in digital YouTube music videos. The research suggests that these depictions can lead to increased consumption and pose a significant health hazard.
Researchers propose a stochastic differential equation model to simulate musical performance synchronization. The model accounts for internal tempo preservation, noise distraction, and phase correction.
A study by Cornell Food & Brand Lab found that diners ordering from heavier wait staff were four times more likely to order dessert and 17% more alcohol. The research suggests that a waiter's weight can play a significant role in influencing diner behavior, particularly when it comes to indulging in treats.
A new study found that conveying emotions affects brain's creativity network, with 'happy' and 'sad' music evoking different neural patterns. The research suggests emotion plays a crucial role in creative states, with varying degrees of activation in brain regions.
A new brain-scanning study of jazz pianists found that 'happy' and 'sad' music evoke different neural patterns, with greater activation of reward regions during sad improvisations. The researchers suggest that emotion plays a crucial role in creative states, influencing which parts of the brain's creativity network are activated.
A new Tel Aviv University study suggests that following one's heart can lead to greater job satisfaction and personal fulfillment. The research found that young people with strong callings are more likely to take risks and achieve success in their chosen fields, regardless of their inherent talent.
Researchers from the University of Montreal found that singing calmed infants twice as long as talking, with an average duration of 9 minutes for songs and 4.5 minutes for baby talk. The study suggests that singing has emotion-regulatory properties that can help parents soothe their children.
A new study by University of Oxford researchers found that singing groups bonded more quickly than creative writing or craft classes. Singing broke the ice better, getting classmates closer right at the start of the course, but in the longer term, all group activities brought people together similarly.
Researchers found that voice-command technology is highly distracting, causing drivers to lose focus for extended periods. The studies also revealed that older drivers are more distracted than younger ones when using voice commands.
Researchers replicate previous finding on how the brain processes music using a naturalistic free listening context, demonstrating reliable results and ecologically valid findings. The study fine-tunes previous findings, concluding which brain areas are involved in processing different musical elements.
A new surgical training program has been developed using techniques from sports and music to improve surgical performance. The model employs a coaching team with well-rehearsed communication to provide immediate correction when needed.
Researchers investigated whether rhythmic skills are linked together or separate, finding that beat tapping and rhythm memory are distinct abilities. The study suggests that these skills may track differently with specific language functions.
The trend of modern audiences getting involved in theater productions is explored in a new book by Caroline Heim. Audiences are increasingly exuberant participants, participating in actions like screaming, taking photos, and drinking during performances.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that music therapy significantly lowered anxiety levels for patients undergoing surgical breast biopsies. The study involved 207 patients who received either live or recorded music before surgery, with results showing a 43% reduction in anxiety compared to usual care.
A comprehensive review of 7000 patients found that listening to music significantly reduces pain medication use and reports more satisfaction after surgery. Patients who selected their own music experienced a slight but non-significant reduction in pain, highlighting the importance of patient choice.
A comprehensive review of available evidence confirmed that listening to music before, during, and after surgery reduces postoperative pain, anxiety, and the need for painkillers. The study involved nearly 7,000 patients and found music to be effective even when patients were under general anaesthetic.
Researchers found that people with epilepsy exhibit synchronized brainwave activity when listening to music, particularly in the temporal lobe region. This phenomenon may lead to novel therapies to prevent seizures in individuals with epilepsy.
A study by the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that listening to surgeons' preferred music reduces repair completion time by 7% while maintaining improved wound closure quality. The effect is more pronounced for senior residents, with a 10% reduction in time and an overall improvement in work quality.
A new study by University of Exeter and Tokyo University of the Arts found that songs from around the world share features like strong rhythm to enable coordination and group bonding. The researchers analysed 304 recordings of diverse music, revealing dozens of statistical universals related to pitch, rhythm, and social context.
New research suggests that depressed people often choose to increase rather than decrease their sadness in daily life. Studies found that depressed participants preferred sad music and re-watched sad images more frequently than non-depressed individuals. The findings highlight the importance of motivation in regulating emotions.
Researchers found that musicians' brains can incorporate abstract music notation to enhance their visual perception of congruent musical notes. Non-musicians showed no significant difference in visual preference regardless of the melody played.
Dr. Ewine van Dishoeck is awarded the Albert Einstein World Award of Science for her groundbreaking research on interstellar molecules, while Dr. Milton Masciadri receives the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts for his exceptional contributions to music and education.
According to archaeo-acoustician Steven J. Waller, ancient cultures sought booming echoes in their performance spaces, rather than clear tones. This reflects a cultural difference between past and present worldviews, where echoes were once considered mysterious and divine.
A new study shows that personalized music playlists with tempo-pace synchronization can significantly increase exercise adherence in cardiac rehabilitation patients, with an average of 105.4 minutes more exercise per week. This approach has the potential to improve long-term survival and life expectancy for these patients.
A collaborative project between the University of Leeds and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust aims to improve access to music for people using hearing aids. The research will explore how music listening experiences are affected by deafness, hearing impairments and the use of hearing aids.
A study found that music intervention reduced heart rate, respiratory rate, anxiety, and dyspnea in patients undergoing daily weaning trials from prolonged mechanical ventilation. However, further research is needed to test benefits in a larger sample and earlier in the weaning process.
Researchers explored how wind turbines impact prairie chicken courtship, the emergence of spoken language in deaf children with cochlear implants, and the effects of noise on human cardiovascular health. These studies showcase innovative approaches to understanding animal behavior, hearing technology, and the impact of sound on our lives.
Researchers analyzed musical properties using signal processing and text-mining to identify trends with consistency. The study found that hip-hop's arrival in 1991 was the greatest musical revolution in US pop history, followed by a diverse year in 1986 attributed to drum machines and samplers.
A study recreated from a 1938 survey found that people's perception of what brings happiness has changed over time. Security, knowledge, and religion were once considered key factors, but today good humour and leisure are ranked first and second respectively.
A study analyzing classical music networks reveals the evolution of cultural styles and predictions for the recording market. The research, published in EPJ Data Science, uses modern data techniques to understand how composers collaborate and influence each other.
Researchers found samples of seamounts that did not erupt from hot spots but formed from cracks in the oceanic crust. This discovery confirms their origins and helps explain the unique bend in the Hawaiian-Emperor chain.
A new study from Finland's Aalto University reveals that alternative variations from popular artists' videos may reach an audience of millions on YouTube. Researchers found three primary types of music video content: traditional, user-appropriated, and derivative music videos.
A new study by McGill University researchers found that a 12-week tango course improved balance and functional mobility in 40 Parkinson's patients, while also showing modest benefits in cognitive functions. The dance style's social interaction and physical activity may have therapeutic value for PD patients.
A new study shows that playing a synchronized game on a computer increased children's sense of similarity and closeness immediately after the activity. The findings suggest that time-based synchronized activities, including in music, dance and sports, could be useful tools in bringing children closer together.
A new study by Aalto University found that 76% of young Finns use YouTube daily for music listening. The two services are preferred over CDs, digital files, and other platforms due to their vast music selection and ease of use. Researchers believe the shift towards streaming is a transition from file downloads to online audio streaming.
Consumers are curating looks and creating images on outfit sharing websites, fueling popular fashion bloggers and a new logic of accessibility. This shift has changed market-level changes in institutional work, categories of actors, and underlying logics.
Research found that playing music by professionals enhances genes involved in dopamine neurotransmission, motor function, and biological pathways essential for neuronal function. This study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of music performance and its effects on brain function and learning.
Research found that music TV exposure triggers increased sexual activities in boys but not girls, due to perceived peer norms. Girls exhibit resistance to media content portraying women as objects of lust, leading them to watch less music TV.
A study by Henrik Hagtvedt found that marketing statements are more effective when consumers are in a state of high arousal, while questions receive better reception when consumers are calm. This suggests that marketers should tailor their promotional phrases to the level of arousal they encourage.
Researchers at McGill University found that visual cues are crucial in recognizing emotions conveyed by music, whereas speech relies on acoustic cues. In their study, participants identified emotions better with video and audio combined compared to just audio or speech alone.
Researchers from the University of Vienna found cross-species parallels in song production and perception among animals. Some species, such as songbirds and parrots, can learn to produce new sounds and even identify beats, similar to human music abilities.
A new study by Georgia Institute of Technology found that music can impair the memory of older adults when trying to remember names. The researchers tested participants' ability to associate faces with names in silence and while listening to background music, discovering a 10% decline in performance among older adults.
Researchers found that cochlear implant users can synchronize body movement to music with a strong beat, similar to hearing individuals. The study suggests that using music compositions emphasizing beats may improve cochlear implant users' understanding and use of spoken language, as well as their enjoyment of music.
A study by Hamerman and Morewedge found that people rely on superstitious behavior to achieve performance goals, such as winning a game or getting good grades. However, this behavior does not affect learning goals, like mastering a musical piece.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that humorous complaints on Amazon and Yelp get more attention from consumers but may not lead to serious responses from businesses. Consumers tend to prefer funny reviews over non-humorous ones.
Researchers discovered that despite cultural differences, listeners from various groups responded similarly to the excitement and calmness of music. The study used emoticons and physiological measurements to compare reactions to Western and Pygmy music.
The study suggests that music can have a calming effect on surgeons and theatre staff, improving communication and efficiency. The authors recommend specific songs, such as Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees, to play in the operating theatre.
The HIP HOP PSYCH initiative aims to use hip-hop lyrics and music to improve people's mental health, address stigma towards mental illness, and increase diversity within the psychiatric profession. By integrating hip-hop into psychotherapies, psychologists can refine their tools to make therapies more relevant to specific populations.
Researchers discovered that beat-deafness is a problem of synchronizing with sounds, not just motor skills. Beat-deaf individuals can perceive rhythms but struggle when moving to the beat, indicating deficits in biological rhythms.
A CU-Boulder study suggests that modern hearing aids can distort music due to advanced processing designed for speech. Researchers found that simpler hearing aids with minimal processing allowed users to enjoy music more, despite reduced sound quality.
A new species of tarantula from Brazil was named Bumba lennoni in tribute to John Lennon. The species has defensive urticating hairs on its abdomen, and its genus name is inspired by a Brazilian folk tradition.
A new technology aims to offer the ultimate listening experience by understanding how the brain perceives vertical sound. Researchers will develop software that converts 2D recordings into 3D using psycho-acoustic analysis and critical listening tests.
A new way of syncing music with video has been discovered, increasing the memorability and commercial impact of TV ads. By making small adjustments to the soundtrack, researchers found a marked improvement in memory response.
Researchers analyzed 10,000 BitTorrent users from around the world and found that most are 'content specialists' sharing specific types of content, such as music or movies. The study also reveals a correlation between country's GDP per capita and file-sharing behavior, with users in poorer countries downloading larger files like movies.
Researchers tested the effectiveness of caffeine and music as countermeasures to driver fatigue. Caffeine was found to improve both alertness and driving performance, while music had a lesser impact on driving skills.
A new system called openPDS allows individuals to store and manage their own digital data, giving them control over what information is shared with apps and services. This enables the use of personalized recommendations while preserving user privacy.
Researchers at Cornell Food & Brand Lab found that adults who viewed their exercise as fun ate less chocolate pudding and M&Ms afterwards. Viewing exercise as a chore led to overeating as a reward.
A new psychological investigation found that most people find it difficult to concentrate when alone with their thoughts, preferring external activities instead. Researchers discovered that even older adults and those who prefer not to disengage from the world struggle with solo thinking.