The Psychological and Physiological Responses to Frequencies in Music

Mariangela Garcia, Rose Hodson, Manpreet Kaur, Alexis Lopez, & Nicole MartinezDepartment of Psychology

California State University, Stanislaus

References

Bruckner,J.B., Hess, S., Schneider,E., Schweichel, E. (1977). Dopamine effects on the circulation and myocardial oxygen supply. Journal of the Royal

Society of Medicine, 70, 43-47. needs completion

Kawakami, A., Furukawa, K., Katahira, C., & Okanoya, K. (2013). Sad music induces pleasant emotion.

Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 1-15. doi:10.1037/t27579-000

Salimpoor, V. N., Benovoy, M., Larcher, K., Dagher, A., & Zatorre, R. J. (2011). Anatomically distinct dopamine

release during anticipation and experience of peak emtotion to music. Nature Neuroscience, 14(2), 257-264. doi:10.1038/nn.2726.

Discussion In this study, participants were exposed to different

sound audio clips: A= 432 Hz and A= 440 Hz. Audio preference and enjoyment were assessed alongside physiological responses – blood oxygen levels and pulse rate. We expected to find significant changes in heart rate and blood oxygen levels between conditions. In addition, we predicted that the A=440 Hz frequency would have a higher preference rating because it is what modern music is played in.

Our study concluded that there was a significant difference in the preference levels of both frequencies. Participants strongly preferred an audio track played at a frequency of A=440Hz over an audio track played at a frequency of A=432Hz. These results show that standard tuning was more enjoyable, which in turn, supported our hypothesis.

The results of our study were inconclusive in comparison to the findings of Bruckner et al. (1977), as neither heart rate nor blood oxygen levels were accurately recorded regardless of condition. Study limitations included a very limited sample size and the readings of heart rates and O2 levels from our pulse-oximeter were inaccurate measurements.

IntroductionThe relationship between auditory perception and

emotional and physiological responses warrants further investigation, as encountering and processing sound waves is a natural phenomenon for living organisms. The experience we call music affects us in ways that may not be immediately apparent, and so necessitates research and experimentation into the various responses elicited by its components.

explored the inherent contradiction in the enjoyment of sad music to discover that regardless of the emotional quality of the sound, a clip of music can produce sensations of pleasure due to its predictable nature (Kawakami et al., 2013) . The experience of recognition is in itself a rewarding process in the brain. Salimpoor et al. (2010) investigated the flow of dopamine through the brain while listening to music, focusing on the regions that show an increase in dopaminergic activity in response to pleasurable music.

The connection between dopamine production and heart rate was provided by Bruckner et al. (1977), whose research discovered that as dopamine levels increase in the brain, heart rate also increases. From these studies, we can deduce that there is a strong, positive correlation between music that is in some way predictable or familiar, thus causing a higher production of dopamine resulting in an increased heart rate.

Our study sought to determine any preference between participants exposed to different frequencies of music. Half of the participants were exposed to audio clips played at the standard frequency A=440Hz and the second half were exposed to audio clips played at a frequency of A=432Hz. We hypothesized that the A=440Hz group would show greater preference for the music they listened to because it was played at a familiar frequency. In addition, we hypothesized that A=440Hz condition, being the standard for modern music, and therefore more familiar frequency, would elicit higher heart rates and blood oxygen levels than the A=432Hz condition.

MethodParticipants•4 Females, 2 Males.

•Median age 23.8 years, age range 19 to 40 years

•All participants registered via SONA

Design • Independent Variable: Sound Frequency• Levels: A=440Hz and A=432Hz• Between Subject Design • Dependent Variables: Heart rate and oxygen levels

measured via Pulse Oximeter, frequency preference measured via Likert Scale to assess music enjoyability

Procedure • Upon being seated, participants were asked to fill out a

consent form, and complete a short demographics questionnaire on Qualtrics online survey.

• Participants were then asked to place the Tracks headphones on their ears, and listen to a randomly assigned test audio clip in order to adjust volume to their liking. The test audio clip determined which frequency condition the participants were exposed to.

• Researchers placed a pulse oximeter onto the left index finger of the participant.

• Participants then listened to one of 2 audio clips that were either in A-440Hz, or A- 432Hz while heart rate and oxygen levels were being recorded.

• Once physiological effects were recorded participants completed an online survey that recorded their preference for the music piece.

• At the end of the study, participants were debriefed and dismissed.

Results

Participants’ physiological response to frequency was measured by recording the values for heart rate and blood oxygen levels provided by a pulse oximeter and frequency preference was assessed by comparing averages reported on a Likert scale for music enjoyability.

An independent samples t-test was run to determine if the difference in average heart rate was significant. The results showed that the 432Hz condition (M = 98.42, SD = .51), had no significant difference t(4) = 1.42, .37, p > .05, in comparison to the 440Hz condition (M = 97.63, SD = .81). Both groups displayed similar heart rate averages, as shown in Figure 1.

The results of an independent samples t-test for average oxygen levels showed that the 432Hz condition (M = 72.12, SD = .7.24), was not significantly different t(4) = 1.69, p > .05, to the 440Hz condition (M =79.27 SD = 1.03), Figure 2. Both groups displayed similar oxygen levels.

The results of an independent samples t-test for the Likert scale of music enjoyability showed that A-440 Hz condition (M = 5, SD = .00), was significantly preferred over condition A-432 Hz (M = 3.33, SD = .58); t(4) = 5.00, p.01 < .05, Figure 3.

Above, Figure 1 displays average pulse rate of participants between conditions. Participant results showed no significant difference between conditions.

Above, Figure 2 displays average participant oxygen levels between conditions. Results showed no significant difference, with increased oxygen levels in condition A – 432Hz.

Above, Figure 3 displays average participant enjoyment recorded on the Likert scale. Results show that enjoyment level was higher in the A – 440Hz condition (standard tuning).

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/12/21/heres-why-you-should-convert-your-music-to-432hz/