Electrocortical (EEG) correlates of music and states of consciousness

Attempts to localize musical abilities in particular brain regions have largely failed, except for differences between musicians and non-musicians in hemispheric specialization and EEG correlations. Human emotional response to music depends on the limbic system, suggesting a possible neurobiological origin for music-induced altered states of consciousness, similar to those in Eastern yogic practices. In a group of 6 adults, 4 types of spiritual music were evaluated. The most prominent changes in theta or alpha frequency bands occurred in two subjects listening to Indian spiritual music, Bhajan.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The study of the perception of music is a paramount example of multidisciplinary research. In spite of a lot of theoretical and experimental efforts to understand musical processing, attempts to localize musical abilities in particular brain regions were largely unsuccessful, save for the difference between musicians and non musicians, especially in hemispheric specialization and in EEG correlational dimensions. Having in mind that human emotional response to music and to art in general is limbic dependent, this motivated us to address our question to a similar possible neurobiological origin of musicogenic altered states of consciousness and its possible EEG correlates, “resonantly” induced by deep spiritual music. For example, as in sound-induced altered states of consciousness cultivated in some Eastern yogic practices. The musicogenic states of consciousness are evaluated within a group of 6 adults, upon the influence of 4 types of spiritual music. The most prominent changes in theta or alpha frequency bands were induced in two subjects, upon the influence of Indian spiritual music, Bhajan.