Articles tagged with Music
A study by University of Kent psychologists found that listening to 'sad' music with high aesthetic value directly predicts mood enhancement. Music selection strategies were linked to individual expectations and emotions.
A Vanderbilt study finds that premature babies who receive a combination of their mother's voice and a pacifier-activated music player learn to eat more efficiently and have their feeding tubes removed sooner. The intervention also reduces stress and shortens hospitalization times.
Researchers discovered a sea lion, Ronan, has impressive rhythmic entrainment skills, beating to various tempos and music. This finding contradicts the long-held theory that beat keeping requires complex vocal mimicry.
Researchers found that brain activity for mathematical beauty correlates with the same region as art and music, suggesting a neurobiological basis for beauty. The study used fMRI to image brain activity of mathematicians when viewing beautiful formulae, revealing strong correlation between beauty experience and brain intensity.
Neuroscientists discovered that minimizing vision for a week can enhance the brain's processing of sound. This finding may help those experiencing hearing loss regain more use of their sense. The study suggests that certain neural connections in the brain can be reactivated to support lagging senses.
Researchers analyzed Wagner's operas for clues on his debilitating migraines, finding characteristic pulsating patterns and intense pain descriptions. The composer's creative use of music to convey suffering may have influenced future generations.
A new study from Columbia Business School reveals that waiting for a discounted product can significantly reduce consumer enjoyment. Retailers can add value by offering in-store promotions and instant gratification to their customers.
Researchers found that South American squirrel monkeys can detect structural dependencies in musical patterns, similar to those found in human languages. This suggests that the ability to process dependencies may have evolved in human cognition along with human language.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London discovered that high-frequency vibrations in pop and rock music enhance energy generation in solar cells, increasing efficiency. The study, published in Advanced Materials, suggests a new potential for printed solar cells to generate electricity from sunlight.
Researchers found that prenatal music exposure can lead to long-lasting changes in the brain after birth, influencing the development of the auditory system. The study showed that fetuses can learn and retain musical melodies for a long time, even up to four months of age.
A new Northwestern University study tracked the auditory system's response to highly complex auditory-visual stimuli like music and moving images. The research shows that the left auditory cortex specializes in processing precise timing for sounds and applies this ability to encode auditory-visual synchrony, but only in certain situati...
A new algorithm based on the Parsons code successfully identifies individual dolphin whistles, reducing time and errors in classification. This innovation enables researchers to study dolphin social behavior and develop a better understanding of their communication.
Researchers found that learning new skills, such as photography, improves memory in older adults, while less demanding activities like listening to classical music or completing word puzzles have little impact. Engaging in unfamiliar and mentally stimulating activities is crucial for maintaining cognitive vitality with age.
Consumers enjoy discounts more immediately than later, according to a new study. Discounts make consumers happier but also reduce the need to justify expenditure, leading to decreased enjoyment. The study found that waiting to consume after payment can dampen pleasure-related consumption experiences.
Researchers found that consumers are more likely to buy a product from a different location when a pleasant sound draws attention to the item. This effect is attributed to the ability to visually process products presented in the same spatial direction as the auditory signal, making it easier for consumers to make informed decisions.
A study analyzing UK music charts over four decades found a significant increase in alcohol references, with almost one in five top 10 songs featuring alcohol-related lyrics. Researchers warn that these messages may be reaching larger audiences than traditional advertising, posing a concern for young people's drinking behaviors.
A Northwestern University study of over 100 high school students found a significant link between music, beat-keeping and language skills. Accurate beat-keeping involves synchronization between the parts of the brain responsible for hearing and movement.
A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience suggests that people who can move to a beat show more consistent brain responses to speech than those with less rhythm. The findings imply that musical training could improve the brain's response to language.
A study at the European Respiratory Society Annual Congress found that a music video produced by Dr. Tapas Mukherjee increased awareness of new guidelines for managing acute asthma. The video was shared on social media sites, leading to improved knowledge among healthcare professionals.
Researchers found young adults have strong emotional connections to the music popular during their parents' younger years. This phenomenon is linked to the prevalence of music in home environments and childhood experiences.
A study published by the European Society of Cardiology found that listening to favorite music improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), leading to increased exercise capacity. The combination of music and exercise training resulted in the most significant improvement in endothelial function.
A new study found that four major alcohol brands, including Patron and Hennessy, are frequently mentioned in popular music, particularly among urban audiences. Alcohol use is often portrayed positively in these songs, which may contribute to increased youth drinking behavior.
A new study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that teen drivers who listen to their preferred music while driving are more likely to commit errors and miscalculations. In contrast, listening to background music designed to increase driver safety reduced deficient driving behaviors by 20 percent.
Nina Kraus, PhD, a researcher at Northwestern University, is the 2013 recipient of the Gene D. Cohen Research Award in Creativity and Aging. Her work focuses on the neurobiology underlying speech and music perception and learning-associated brain plasticity.
Research examines hip-hop's shift from party music to a political platform, with key figures in the rap industry leading a countering movement. The study highlights 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash as a pivotal song addressing social issues and economic inequalities.
A new study explores the evolution of hip-hop from party music to a platform for social movement and activism. The research, led by Todd Callais, found that hip-hop began to take on more overtly political themes in the early 1990s, with artists like Grandmaster Flash addressing social issues in their work.
A clinical trial found that music significantly reduced children's reported pain and distress during IV procedures. The study also showed improved satisfaction levels for parents and healthcare providers. Researchers hope to continue exploring the benefits of music as a distraction from pain.
A study by University of California, San Diego researchers found that almost half of mobile apps on iOS devices access the unique identifier, location, and address book. A new app called ProtectMyPrivacy detects and controls what data other apps can access, giving users control over their privacy.
Male superb lyrebirds' choreographed dance movements are linked to specific songs, with females selecting the best performers. The birds' dancing skills are crucial for mating, with years of practice before maturity.
A new approach achieves independent listening zones within a car by using small, modified speakers to produce directional sound fields. The new design optimizes audio signals used to drive each of the speakers, reducing intergenerational audio conflict in cars.
A study published in JAMA Network found that patient-preferred music significantly reduced anxiety and sedation frequency and intensity in critically ill patients receiving acute ventilatory support. The intervention resulted in a 19.5-point lower anxiety score compared to usual care.
A study by Michigan State University's Zach Hambrick found that practice accounts for only about one-third of the differences in skill in chess and music. Natural talent and factors such as intelligence and age of start may contribute to the remaining two-thirds.
A clinical trial shows that listening to favorite music lowers anxiety by 36.5% and reduces the need for sedative medications in ICU patients on mechanical ventilators. The study also found that patients who listened to music spent more time being liberated from the ventilator than those in other groups.
A study from the University of California, Berkeley suggests that humans share a common emotional palette when it comes to music and color. Participants consistently paired bright colors with upbeat music and dark colors with subdued music across different cultures.
Recent research at the University of Missouri discovered that listening to upbeat music can successfully try to be happier. Participants improved their moods after being instructed to attempt to do so, especially when listening to Copland's music, and reported higher levels of happiness over a two-week period.
A recent study reveals that individuals experiencing relationship problems tend to prefer aesthetic experiences that match their negative mood. Consumers seek out music and other art forms that reflect their emotions as a substitute for lost relationships.
A new study found that high levels of OR noise can have a disruptive effect on a surgeon's auditory processing abilities and cause a decrease in speech comprehension. The researchers tested 15 surgeons with varying years of experience under different listening conditions, including quiet, filtered noise, background noise, and music.
Researchers found that digital possessions after a breakup are often evocative and upsetting, leading to distinct disposal strategies. They propose software solutions like automatic harvesting or a 'Pandora's Box' to help scrub cyberspace of painful memories.
A recent study at McGill University found that the nucleus accumbens and auditory cortex interact to assign value to music through pattern recognition and prediction. This interaction involves ancient dopaminergic reward circuitry and is essential for our survival and emotional experiences.
A European Society of Cardiology initiative aims to train bystanders in CPR to increase survival rates. Studies show that trained individuals are ten times more likely to respond than untrained ones, and training makes a big difference.
A new method called Jokestega uses automatic joke generation to hide secret messages in plain text documents, avoiding grammar disruptions. The technique takes advantage of recent software that can create pun-type jokes, allowing for efficient and humorous message concealment.
Computer scientist Jennifer Burg's innovative approach to teaching digital media has increased students' understanding of technical concepts like sampling and quantization. The study also shows improved aptitude and interest in electronics, physics, and math among STEM majors.
A new study suggests that emotional appeals can be more effective than celebrity endorsements when promoting products related to a consumer's identity. By matching emotions with identities, companies can create more personalized and persuasive marketing campaigns.
A new study by USC Marshall Professor Valerie Folkes and Ohio State University Professor Shashi Matta investigates how firms can activate gender stereotypes to sell more products. The researchers found that stressing competence and quality can influence consumer behavior in a positive way, rendering the product more appealing.
Researchers found that mindfulness meditation increased focused engagement and aesthetic responses among music students, even with familiar passages. The technique helped renew attention and drive participants into a state of 'flow,' leading to improved listening experiences.
An observational study found that nearly 1 in 3 pedestrians are distracted by mobile devices while crossing roads, with texting being the most distracting activity. This behavior is comparable to drunk driving and can significantly increase the risk of accidents.
A study from the University of Southampton found that feeling nostalgic can increase perceptions of warmth and tolerance for cold. Volunteers who recalled nostalgic events perceived a warmer room temperature and could withstand colder water.
A study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that musical duets show coordinated brain oscillations, even when playing different voices of the same song. This suggests a direct neural basis for interpersonal coordination, with synchronized brain activity observed in regions associated with social cognition and music production.
A new study review from the University of Kentucky found that music therapy can reduce pain, anxiety, and recovery time for surgery patients. Patients who received music therapy were less anxious before procedures, recovered more quickly, and required less sedative medication.
Researchers combine EEG and fMRI data to transform brain wave patterns into free-form music, providing a platform for scientists and artists to better understand the links between music and the human brain. The study reveals an improved method to reflect the physiological processes of the scale-free brain in music.
A study by Clarkson et al. found that novice consumers seek out novel experiences to expand their existing knowledge, whereas expert consumers prefer deeper knowledge through familiar but unique products. This selective approach to consumption drives consumer behavior.
A study by Cornell Food & Brand Lab found that softening fast-food restaurant lighting and music reduces calorie intake by 18% and increases customer satisfaction. Diners ate 175 fewer calories and rated the food as more enjoyable in a softer environment.
Researchers found that adopting a self-distanced perspective can reduce angry feelings and aggressive thoughts in provoked individuals. By viewing the situation from a distant point, people can better regulate their emotions and respond less aggressively.
Shimi, a musical robot companion developed by Georgia Tech's Center for Music Technology, uses listener feedback to recommend songs and dances in sync with the beat. The smartphone-enabled robot has various interactive capabilities, including face detection and rhythm analysis.
A study published in PLoS One found that individuals with Williams syndrome exhibit abnormal hormonal responses to emotional triggers, particularly increased levels of oxytocin and arginine vasopressin. This may help understand human social behavior and inform treatment for related disorders.
Researchers found that world-class performers had higher brain integration scores compared to average controls. They also experienced peak experiences characterized by happiness, inner calm, and a sense of perfection.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology's Sonification Lab converted numerical data from Kepler telescope star data into sounds to create a musically appealing melody. The team used this sound in a song by Echo Movement, showcasing the potential of sonification as a tool for analyzing large data sets.
Researchers studied people with and without Williams syndrome to gauge emotional response through hormone release. The study found that oxytocin levels increased in response to music, particularly Elvis songs, suggesting a link between the hormone and emotional experience.
Distorted music triggers strong emotional responses by tapping into distress calls of animals, according to UCLA researchers. Listeners rate music with distortion as more exciting and charged with negative emotion than neutral compositions.
Selected acoustic research papers are now available in lay language summaries. The collection explores various topics including microorganism trapping for water purification and the development of speech perception in monolingual and bilingual infants. Researchers also investigate ways to improve orchestra pit acoustics for musicians.