Reflection of the process of emotional perception of short musical fragments in the parameters of long-latency auditory evoked potentials

Abstract

The amplitude–temporal parameters of long-latency components of evoked potentials (recorded in symmetrical leads of the parietal regions) were studied during listening to short fragments of classical musical works, which had different emotional expressiveness, presented to healthy subjects by different modes. In random order of presentation, the maximal markedness of the N1-P2 complex and the P3 wave was found to be observed for fragments causing predominantly negative emotional experiences, while the minimal amplitude values and the highest values of the latencies were observed in response to presentation of a musical fragment assessed as emotionally neutral. Significantly higher amplitude values of these oscillations were recorded in the right parietal lead as compared to the left. The data obtained are interpreted in the context of the specific features of perception of short musical fragments in a human with the use of data concerning functional interhemispheric asymmetry when opposite-sign emotional experiences occur.