Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Strong emotional and bodily experiences with music are a very complex phenomenon that may be best observed in terms of the involuntary bodily reactions that can accompany strong musical experiences. Based on the relationship between the activation of noradrenaline (NE) and changes in pupil size, there is a theoretical ground for studying pupillary reactions when experiencing music chills. In the present study, participants listened to self-chosen songs versus control songs chosen by the other participants, since findings from previous studies indicated that self-chosen songs were more effective in evoking chills during listening. The experiment included a passive condition, and an active condition where participants made key presses to indicate when experiencing chills. The present findings supported the hypothesis and strengthen the relationship between the activation of NE, seen as changes in pupil size, while experiencing chills. Control songs never showed stronger effects than the experimental songs, which speaks for the subjective quality of the experience. Interestingly, physiological responses to chills decreased with listening time. The present results extend and support previous studies of chills and music.
Author: Lise Mette Eidet
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2415219939