Music Listening Research Articles

“Moody Melodies”: An Analysis of Coping Strategies Exhibited By Listeners of Sad Music

While existing research suggests that sad music can help listeners cope with trauma, it is unclear the ways in which sad music encourages listeners to exhibit different coping strategies and how these strategies may differ between sad vocal music and sad instrumental music. In order to answer the research question “How does sadness induced by sad vocal music help listeners cope with trauma compared to sad instrumental music?”, this paper employs a directed content analysis of YouTube comments from videos of sad music with lyrics and sad music without lyrics through codes derived from coping strategies identified by the Brief-COPE Inventory. The results indicate that the most prevalent adaptive coping strategies differed between both types of music with listeners of sad vocal music primarily coping through music-induced memories and listeners of sad instrumental music primarily relying on methods of self-reflection.

Exploring Language Learning Strategies of TESL Practicum Students Through a Phenomenological Lens for Enhancing Language Competency

Proficiency in English as a second language (TESL) and effective cross-cultural communication skills are paramount for future educators. This study investigates the language proficiency learning strategies and motivations of TESL students in engaging with English communications beyond the classroom. This aspect is frequently underestimated in Malaysian educational contexts. Employing a phenomenological approach, qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 TESL practicum students at a Malaysian public university, selected through purposive sampling to ensure diversity in backgrounds and experiences. The study spanned from August 2021 to August 2023, totalling 2 years. The duration of each interview ranged from 45 minutes to 2 hours. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts using NVivo software unveiled significant themes such as using audio-visual materials, leisure reading, note-taking, self-speaking practice, music listening, teaching and learning, gamification, and football commentary. The implications of these findings extend to TESL students, academic researchers, English teachers, and higher education institutions, suggesting avenues for further research to enrich language proficiency and communication skills among TESL students. Integrating these strategies into language education curricula is essential for fostering effective communication skills among future educators, thereby contributing to the advancement of educational practices in Malaysia and beyond.

Music engagement for stress and anxiety in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused heightened mental distress globally. The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the impact of music engagement on stress and anxiety in adults during COVID-19. Thirteen articles were included, encompassing 9,893 adults and reporting on seven forms of music engagement: music listening, singing, playing an instrument, watching music videos or virtual performances, dancing to music, composing, and externally-facilitated music interventions. The majority of articles concluded a beneficial impact of music on stress and anxiety among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the seven studies that investigated stress, four (57.1%) reported that music had a positive impact on stress and, of the nine studies that investigated anxiety, six (66.7%) reported a positive impact on anxiety. A higher proportion of externally-facilitated music studies reported reductions in stress and anxiety compared to studies with participant-facilitated music interventions. Our systematic review demonstrates the potential feasibility of music to improve mental health outcomes during times of heightened psychological distress. However, given the limited quality of included articles and the high proportion of observational studies, further research is required to better elucidate the effect of music on stress and anxiety among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frontal and cerebellar contributions to pitch and rhythm processing: a TMS study.

Music represents a salient stimulus for the brain with two key features: pitch and rhythm. Few data are available on cognitive analysis of music listening in musically naïve healthy participants. Beyond auditory cortices, neuroimaging data showed the involvement of prefrontal cortex in pitch and of cerebellum in rhythm. The present study is aimed at investigating the role of prefrontal and cerebellar cortices in both pitch and rhythm processing. The performance of fifteen participants without musical expertise was investigated in a listening discrimination task. The task required to decide whether two eight-element melodic sequences were equal or different according to pitch or rhythm characteristics. Before the task, we applied a protocol of continuous theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation interfering with the activity of the left cerebellar hemisphere (lCb), right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), or vertex (Cz-control site), in a within cross-over design. Our results showed that participants were more accurate in pitch than rhythm tasks. Importantly, the reaction times were slower following rIFG or lCb stimulations in both tasks. Notably, frontal and cerebellar stimulations did not induce any motor effect in right and left hand. The present findings point to the role of the fronto-cerebellar network in music processing with a single mechanism for both pitch and rhythm patterns.

Poeme Elecroniqe fusion concept of nationalism in “Feel the Sounds of Kenya”

This study sought to find out Poeme Elecroniqe fusion concept of nationalism in "Feel the Sounds of Kenya". Edgar Varese, a French composer, is hailed as the pioneer of electronic music with his signature Poeme Eletronique composition, which was performed in 1958 in Brussels. Attributes of similitude with Edgar Varese's Poeme Electronique style have come to identify certain African contemporary music idioms. Transcending conventional sonic boundaries that have long defined the Kenyan music space, the piece "Feel the Sounds of Kenya” by CeeRoo exemplifies this innovative fusion concept of electronic elements with social-cultural schemas akin to the Kenyan nationhood, a blend of native nuances with technological progress. Using the content analysis method, the researcher analyses Poeme Electronique concepts in ‘Feel the Sounds of Kenya’ with the aim of establishing the intersection between artistry and technology within the broader discourse of nationalism while propagating national consciousness. This is achieved by using Sofia’s model approach to examine CeeRoo’s ‘Feel the Sounds of Kenya’ on both descriptive and conceptual analysis levels. From the analysis, it is clear that CeeRoo’s “Feel the Sounds of Kenya” exemplifies a perfect union of definitive cultural nuances with electronic music in a space that has long been defined by conventional musical schemas. This information provides a model of how music composers, listeners and performers in Kenya can use normative cultural schemas to augment the conventional musical parlance, grammar and vocabulary. The researcher recommends a contextual-conscious approach for music making, practice and education in Kenya for relevance.

The efficacy of iatrosedation and music listening techniques in attenuating dental anxiety in patients undergoing dental crown preparation: A randomized clinical trial.

Dental anxiety is a common problem encountered in dental clinics that affects both patients and dentists. Adequate management of dental anxiety is critical for optimal treatment outcomes for the patient. This study aims to assess the efficacy of two anxiety-reduction techniques (iatrosedation and music listening) for dental crown preparation in adult patients. In this clinical trial, 60 patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Group 1, iatrosedation; Group 2, music listening; and Group 3, control. Patients in all three groups underwent dental crown preparation. To measure the anxiety levels of the patients, heart rate was calculated using a pulse oximeter, and verbal rating scale scores were assessed. One-way analysis of variance, post hoc analysis, and Spearman's correlation were used to compare the mean values of the three groups. Significant differences were observed in the heart rate and verbal rating scale scores among individuals in the study groups. A more substantial reduction in anxiety levels was found in patients exposed to iatrosedation (Group 1), which was followed by music listening (Group 2). Recorded heart rate and verbal rating scores were the highest in the control group patients. The iatrosedation technique significantly reduced dental anxiety for patients undergoing dental crown treatment; however, music listening was less effective than iatrosedation. Educating patients regarding the dental care they are about to receive is vital for reducing their anxiety.

Physical Activity and its Correlates among University Students in Lahore

Background: Physical activity plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health, yet global trends indicate a decline in these levels among university students. Gender differences, environmental access, and lifestyle choices have been identified as significant factors influencing physical activity levels. Previous studies have offered insights into these dynamics, yet gaps remain in understanding the comprehensive impact of various determinants on physical activity among the youth. Objective: This study aimed to assess the levels of physical activity and their association with different factors among university students, with a focus on identifying gender disparities and the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors on physical activity levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students aged 18 to 30 years at Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental College (AMDC) and the University of Lahore (UOL) from July 2022 to January 2023. Ethical approval was obtained, and a sample size of 150 students was determined using EPI software. Data on physical activity levels were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPA-Q) and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Chi-square tests were applied to assess the association between physical activity levels and factors such as computer game play, music listening, sports participation during school, parental encouragement, and institutional support. Results: Among the participants, a significant gender difference in physical activity levels was observed, with males engaging more in strenuous activities. The study found a high association of physical activity with being an active sportsman during school and college (Chi-Square = 7.194, P-value = 0.02) and listening to music (Chi-Square = 9.27, P-value = 0.01). A majority of the students fell into the mild physical activity category, with fewer participants involved in moderate and high physical activity levels. No significant association was found with computer game playing, parental encouragement, or institutional support for physical activity. Conclusion: The study highlights significant gender differences in physical activity levels among university students, with males being more active. Early sports involvement and music listening emerged as key factors associated with higher physical activity levels. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to enhance physical activity, particularly among female students, and promote a more active lifestyle within the university setting.

Cortical linear encoding and decoding of sounds: Similarities and differences between naturalistic speech and music listening.

Linear models are becoming increasingly popular to investigate brain activity in response to continuous and naturalistic stimuli. In the context of auditory perception, these predictive models can be 'encoding', when stimulus features are used to reconstruct brain activity, or 'decoding' when neural features are used to reconstruct the audio stimuli. These linear models are a central component of some brain-computer interfaces that can be integrated into hearing assistive devices (e.g., hearing aids). Such advanced neurotechnologies have been widely investigated when listening to speech stimuli but rarely when listening to music. Recent attempts at neural tracking of music show that the reconstruction performances are reduced compared with speech decoding. The present study investigates the performance of stimuli reconstruction and electroencephalogram prediction (decoding and encoding models) based on the cortical entrainment of temporal variations of the audio stimuli for both music and speech listening. Three hypotheses that may explain differences between speech and music stimuli reconstruction were tested to assess the importance of the speech-specific acoustic and linguistic factors. While the results obtained with encoding models suggest different underlying cortical processing between speech and music listening, no differences were found in terms of reconstruction of the stimuli or the cortical data. The results suggest that envelope-based linear modelling can be used to study both speech and music listening, despite the differences in the underlying cortical mechanisms.

Musical experience influences socio-emotional functioning in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia.

On phenotypic and neuroanatomical grounds, music exposure might potentially affect the clinical expression of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, this has not been clarified. 14 consecutive patients with bvFTD fulfilling consensus diagnostic criteria were recruited via a specialist cognitive clinic. Earlier life musical experience, current musical listening habits and general socio-emotional behaviours were scored using a bespoke semi-quantitative musical survey and standardised functional scales, completed with the assistance of patients' primary caregivers. Associations of musical scores with behavioural scales were assessed using a linear regression model adjusted for age, sex, educational attainment and level of executive and general cognitive impairment. Greater earlier life musical experience was associated with significantly lower Cambridge Behavioural Inventory (Revised) scores (β ± SE = -17.2 ± 5.2; p = 0.01) and higher Modified Interpersonal Reactivity Index (MIRI) perspective-taking scores (β ± SE = 2.8 ± 1.1; p = 0.03), after adjusting for general cognitive ability. Number of hours each week currently spent listening to music was associated with higher MIRI empathic concern (β ± SE = 0.7 ± 0.21; p = 0.015) and MIRI total scores (β ± SE = 1.1 ± 0.34; p = 0.014). Musical experience in earlier life and potentially ongoing regular music listening may ameliorate socio-emotional functioning in bvFTD. Future work in larger cohorts is required to substantiate the robustness of this association, establish its mechanism and evaluate its clinical potential.

2035 The Feasibility to Staff of Patient Specific Music Choice on Elderly Care Wards - A Post Intervention Survey

Abstract Introduction Receptive music listening has been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and agitation in older adults. However, unfiltered and disruptive noise can increase confusion and agitation. Yet, during hospitalization older patients often have little control over when and for how long they are exposed to music, the genre which is heard, or they may have no access to music. Furthermore, older persons have reduced ability to use modern technology to counter this and their sensory and functional impairments may further isolate them. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of offering two one-hour daily sessions of patient specific music (PSM) choices on an elderly-care ward. Methods On a district general hospital elderly-care ward a 5-day trial of offering two one-hour daily sessions of PSM, using enhanced wireless speakers optimally positioned with daily amended music playlists based on specific patient choice. Ambient noise was minimised with regular decibel monitoring. A post-intervention staff survey was completed to assess the feasibility of continuing, the perceived impact on staff and patients and potential barriers to continuation. Thematic analyses were completed on the survey. Results In the post-intervention feasibility survey (n=14) the majority of staff (86%) agreed that it was possible, implementable and the procedure easy to use. In the impact assessment (n=19) 80% of staff stated it had a positive effect on patients and 89% stated it had a positive effect on staff. Thematic analyses on impact identified benefits to: work, engagement, enjoyment, physical activity and well-being. Barriers that were identified included patient choice, repetition of music, patients unable to engage with the process and staff availability for consistent delivery. Conclusion Playing patient specific music choice was feasible and acceptable to staff with a perceived positive influence on both staff and patients. Further studies are now required to assess the impact on patient outcomes.

Exploring Spanish studio music teachers’ views on topics related to creativity

While creativity is a primary focus in music education, its exploration within the realm of music studio teaching is considerably less extensive compared with other educational contexts. Moreover, the related research is predominantly focused on creativity in developing music skills. In the present study, we explore how Spanish instrumental music teachers ( n = 10) perceive creativity and its development among students in the music studio, in the absence of predefined limitations (i.e., with respect to various forms and definitions of creativity inherent in the music studio as perceived from their viewpoint). By means of a case study methodology, we gathered data over a one-year period through a questionnaire, in-depth interviews, participants’ written essays, and researchers’ journal entries following observations of the participants’ teaching practices. Subsequently, qualitative analysis was conducted using thematic analysis. Among our main results, we found tensions between our participants’ theories and their practices, evidence for an underlying individual-centered theory of creativity, both positive and negative attitudes toward the development of creativity among their students, and ignorance of creativity in music listening. Our study implications emphasize the urgency of implementing strategies to enhance teacher self-awareness and underscore the need for further investigation into music studio teaching with a specific focus on creativity.

TenseMusic: An automatic prediction model for musical tension.

The perception of tension and release dynamics constitutes one of the essential aspects of music listening. However, modeling musical tension to predict perception of listeners has been a challenge to researchers. Seminal work demonstrated that tension is reported consistently by listeners and can be accurately predicted from a discrete set of musical features, combining them into a weighted sum of slopes reflecting their combined dynamics over time. However, previous modeling approaches lack an automatic pipeline for feature extraction that would make them widely accessible to researchers in the field. Here, we present TenseMusic: an open-source automatic predictive tension model that operates with a musical audio as the only input. Using state-of-the-art music information retrieval (MIR) methods, it automatically extracts a set of six features (i.e., loudness, pitch height, tonal tension, roughness, tempo, and onset frequency) to use as predictors for musical tension. The algorithm was optimized using Lasso regression to best predict behavioral tension ratings collected on 38 Western classical musical pieces. Its performance was then tested by assessing the correlation between the predicted tension and unseen continuous behavioral tension ratings yielding large mean correlations between ratings and predictions approximating r = .60 across all pieces. We hope that providing the research community with this well-validated open-source tool for predicting musical tension will motivate further work in music cognition and contribute to elucidate the neural and cognitive correlates of tension dynamics for various musical genres and cultures.

The neuro-oscillatory profiles of static and dynamic music-induced visual imagery

Visual imagery, i.e., seeing in the absence of the corresponding retinal input, has been linked to visual and motor processing areas of the brain. Music listening provides an ideal vehicle for exploring the neural correlates of visual imagery because it has been shown to reliably induce a broad variety of content, ranging from abstract shapes to dynamic scenes. Forty-two participants listened with closed eyes to twenty-four excerpts of music, while a 15-channel EEG was recorded, and, after each excerpt, rated the extent to which they experienced static and dynamic visual imagery. Our results show both static and dynamic imagery to be associated with posterior alpha suppression (especially in lower alpha) early in the onset of music listening, while static imagery was associated with an additional alpha enhancement later in the listening experience. With regard to the beta band, our results demonstrate beta enhancement to static imagery, but first beta suppression before enhancement in response to dynamic imagery. We also observed a positive association, early in the listening experience, between gamma power and dynamic imagery ratings that was not present for static imagery ratings. Finally, we offer evidence that musical training may selectively drive effects found with respect to static and dynamic imagery and alpha, beta, and gamma band oscillations. Taken together, our results show the promise of using music listening as an effective stimulus for examining the neural correlates of visual imagery and its contents. Our study also highlights the relevance of future work seeking to study the temporal dynamics of music-induced visual imagery.

Usability, Appeal, and Relevance of Music and Wellbeing Training for Carers of People with Dementia: A Think-Aloud Study.

Personalized music listening can be highly effective in supporting people experiencing changes in mood and behavior due to Alzheimer's disease and other conditions causing dementia. However, a lack of staff education can be a barrier to effective use of music in residential aged care. This study investigates the usability, appeal and relevance of an online training course designed to help care staff develop personalized music programs for people living with dementia in their care. A mixed methods approach was taken in which 13 participants took part in a think-aloud session while using the training. Qualitative data from the think-aloud session and interviews were triangulated with results of a survey evaluation of the training. Themes relating to Engagement, Usability and Appeal, Pedagogical Design and Content, and Transfer, Impact and Barriers to Uptake were discussed. Results indicated that participants regarded the virtual environment and pedagogical design as of high quality, although some minor issues in navigability were identified. Participants also found the training to be highly relevant to their roles as caregivers and reported ways they would incorporate key concepts into care practices. However, ongoing barriers to implementation of such training were identified including systemic issues that contribute to a culture of focus on physical care. Consistency of navigation and clear instructions for interacting with content are important in training of time-poor care staff. Linking training to industry standards can provide important motivation for implementation of training, although systemic barriers can impede real-world change.

“There’s Healing in Music”: Veteran Perceptions of Music Interventions for Their Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Background/Objective: For veterans suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain, finding alternative treatments to analgesics is critical for safer, more effective pain management. While music interventions have shown promise for acute pain, their acceptability for chronic pain and telehealth delivery needs more rigorous examination.
 Methods: The Feasibility and Acceptability of Music Imagery and Listening Interventions for Analgesia (FAMILIA) study randomized 60 veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain to receive usual care, telehealth music listening (ML), or telehealth music imagery (MI). ML involved independent listening to songs of each participant’s choosing, while MI consisted of one-on-one music therapist-led sessions combining ML, imagery, and verbal processing. To complement quantitative analysis of patient-reported outcomes, qualitative interviews of participants were conducted to understand perceived benefits, acceptability, barriers, and facilitators of study interventions. We analyzed 15 interviews using thematic analysis to assess acceptability of the music interventions.
 
 Results: All interviewees perceived mental-emotional benefits and almost all experienced physical pain relief during their music listening or therapy sessions. However, many noted that the pain relief was short term, and for some veterans randomized to ML, certain songs evoked negative associations. Participants also benefited from study participation and its formal structure, in contrast to their prior informal music listening experiences. Planned study activities like participant check-ins with staff and interactions with therapists fostered a deeper understanding of how music can be therapeutic and increased veterans’ confidence in their own ability to use music therapeutically. Study acceptability was further evidenced by interviewees’ intention to continue using music listening and imagery techniques after study completion and their strong support for expanding access to music interventions to other veterans.
 Conclusion/Implications: The FAMILIA study not only supports telehealth music interventions as acceptable treatments for chronic musculoskeletal pain, but the reported physical pain and mental-emotional benefits necessitate a larger, fully powered study.

Gender Inequality in Indonesian Dangdut Songs Containing Vulgar Content: A Critical Discourse Study

Dangdut music is a highly popular genre in Indonesia. It serves not only as entertainment but also reflects the social reality of Indonesia through its lyrics, often depicting everyday life stories. Some Indonesian Dangdut song lyrics frequently exhibit gender inequality, perpetuating stereotypical views on gender roles by portraying women as sexual objects or passive, while men are often depicted as dominant figures. This research aims to explain gender inequality in the lyrics of well-known Dangdut songs in Indonesia. The research methodology employed is qualitative descriptive research. Data collection techniques include observation and note-taking. The research data consists of lyrics containing words, phrases, and sentences that represent gender inequality. Data analysis techniques involve content analysis and focus group discussions. The findings of this research contribute to the fields of linguistics, gender equality, and language use in song lyrics. The results indicate that explicit Dangdut song lyrics convey gender inequality between men and women. The subject-object and writer-reader positions are evident in portraying actors in the lyrics. Men are characterized powerful and actively engaged, while women are portrayed as sexual objects, obedient, passive, and accepting anything. The writer's position is that of a song creator observing societal phenomena, while the reader's position is that of music listeners, representing society. Ultimately, this research can provide insights for songwriters, singers, and stakeholders in the music industry regarding the potential impact of lyrics that create or reinforce gender inequality. This may encourage the adoption of more inclusive and gender-aware creation practices.

Exploring the factors affecting music-related quality of life in post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants

Objective: To observe the feelings of listening to music and the importance of music in the daily life of post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants, and to explore the relevant influencing factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study. From January 2021 to August 2021,the Music-Related Quality of Life Scale was used to evaluate the music needs and music experiences of 63 post-lingual deaf adults who met the inclusion criteria, including 27 males and 36 females, aged (40.7±12.3) years, at the time of surgery (36.8±13.1) years, and with a preoperative hearing aid ineffective time of (3.9±5.8) years. Indicators analyzed included age, duration of ineffective preoperative hearing aid wear, preoperative music preference, duration of postoperative cochlear implant use, current hearing aid modality, and auditory rehabilitation outcomes. Whether the six factors mentioned above constituted an influence on the subjects' music listening was investigated using SPSS 25.0 statistical software. Results: All of the observations in the scale were correlated with a single factor. The two sub-dimensions of music experience section were related to the effect of auditory rehabilitation. In the importance section, the effect of auditory rehabilitation was the influential factor of the dimension of "participation importance", and the preoperative enjoyment of music was the relevant influential factor of the dimension of "perceived importance". There was a significant difference between the groups when they were grouped by the above factors (P value<0.05), while there was no statistically significance between the groups when they were grouped by other factors (P value>0.05). Conclusions: Post-lingual deaf adults show the need and attempt to listen to music after cochlear implantation. The effectiveness of auditory rehabilitation and the degree of music preference preoperatively are two important factors that influence music listening in implant recipients. Once the level of auditory communication has been restored to a certain degree, it is important to pay more attention to the needs of music for implant recipients and train them in time, especially for those with music preferences preoperatively.

The effect of listening to music and foot reflexology on nausea, pain and anxiety in children during perioperative period: A randomized controlled study

AimThe purpose of this research was to examine the effects of listening to music and foot reflexology during the perioperative period on nausea, pain and anxiety in children aged 7–12 years. Material and methodThe sample for the randomized controlled experimental study included children who underwent outpatient surgery in the Pediatric Surgery Clinic. Research data were collected. A total of 99 children were included in the study with 33 in the music group, 33 in the foot reflexology group, and 33 in the control group. ResultsIn the preoperative and postoperative periods, Children's Perioperative Multidimensional Anxiety Scale (CPMAS) scores for the music listening and reflexology groups were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). In the postoperative period, the Children's Emotional Manifestation Scale (CEMS) scores for the reflexology and music listening groups after the application were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001). Postoperative Baxter Retching Faces (BARF) scores were found to be significantly lower in children who listened to music compared to the control group (p = 0.002). The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) scores for children in the control group were found to be significantly higher in the postoperative period than for children in the music and reflexology groups (p < 0.001). ConclusionsAs a result, listening to music and reflexology during the perioperative period were effective in reducing anxiety, pain and nausea in children. Practice implicationsIn the perioperative period, listening to music and reflexology for children can be recommended as non-pharmacological nursing interventions with low cost and easy implementation.

A study on the effect of music listening on people with high neurotic tendency as evidenced by negative affective scores and physiological responses.

Music listening has been found to be effective in reducing stress levels with different participant samples. Relatively little evidence has been obtained from people with high neurotic tendency (HNT), whose dispositional psychological characteristics might dampen the effect of music listening. This study therefore tried to examine the immediate effect of music listening in reducing stressful feelings of participants with either high or low neurotic tendency. Seventy-nine undergraduate participants who were identified as having either HNT or low neurotic tendency (LNT) accomplished a stressful task before listening to a comforting music piece. Negative affect (NA) scores and heart rate were measured at different phases. Results in a within-subjects analysis showed that the stressor and music listening could significantly alter the stressful feeling of both participant groups. Although the percentage changes in heart rate were similar between the groups, the changes of NA score which were measured after either the stressful task or the music listening session were consistently lower in the HNT group than the LNT group. The divergence revealed a loose connection between the subjective feelings and the bodily changes in the HNT group, which could be important for clinicians and practitioners to take into consideration in psychology when evaluating the stressful feelings for their clients with HNT.

The Effects of Music-listening on Human Concentration and Heart Rate?

There is a growing investigation into the effects of music listening on people’s memory abilities and emotional regulation. However, the effects of music-listening on people’s concentration remain confusing. This study investigates the impacts of music listening on people’s attention. Ten participants were recruited for the research. The subjects’ heart rates and reaction times were recorded using pre-existing apps when listening to different types of music (i.e., rap and soft music). No significant correlations between music’s effect on concentration and heart rate were found due to the limited sample size. Future work would examine more variables influencing the relationship between music listening and concentration. This experiment is designed to provide suggestions about music listening management and assist as a reference for people who prefer listening to music at work.