music and mental imagery
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The Effects of Music on the Primary and Secondary Visual Cortices During a Visualization
Task: An fMRI Study
Jordan McNeely
University of Cincinnati
Introduction
Humans have the amazing ability to generate a copy of an array of sensory
inputs in our brains without actually experiencing the stimulus
For vision we can even create mental images of situations and scenarios we
have never before experienced
Introduction cont.
It has been well documented that when one creates mental images some of the same areas of the brain are activated as
if that person were actually receiving sensory input
(Cui et al., 2007; Hairston et al., 2008; Platel et al.,1997; Zatorre et al.,1996)
Introduction cont.
Studies have shown subjects report enhanced visual imagery when music is applied during
the imaging process (Band, Quilter, & Miller, 2002; Burns,2000).
Subjective reports of better vividness of visual imagery (VVI) have been linked to more
activation in Brodmann’s areas 17 and 18 (Cui et al., 2007)
Introduction cont.
Application of music
Enhanced visualization
Enhanced visualization
Increased Activation
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It follows that a researcher may be able to see greater activation in the occipital lobe during a
visualization task where music is applied
Introduction cont.
It is assumed that certain styles of music are prone to facilitate certain visual
imagery scenarios
Happy Birthday vs. National Anthem
Introduction cont.
Under this assumption, two different styles of music will be employed to test their effects on
the visualization process
The subjects will be asked to visualize scenarios that would be stereotypically associated with
the style of music (CT) and also scenarios that would be stereotypically dissociated the style
of music (IT)
Introduction cont.
Hypotheses Subjective report of VVI will significantly
correlated with visual cortex activation Brodmann’s areas 17 and 18 will be
significantly more activated during the CT than the controls
These areas will be significantly less activated during the IT compared to the control trials
Method
Subjects20 subjects (10 males and 10 females)Subjects should be controlled for age,
SES, ethnicity, culture, and level of education. Also they should be screened for any preexisting conditions that could confound the data
If at all possible, the subjects should be monetarily compensated
Method cont.
Music Selections Peterloo Overture by Malcolm Arnold
dark, sinister, rhythmic, and contain several dissonant cords
CT for this selection will be an army marching Turkish March by Mozart
staccato and bouncy CT for this selection will be children playing
IT for each selection will be the visualization for the other selection
Method cont.
fMRI Measured Visualization Task Control trails
Visualize children playing without music
Congruent trials Visualize image assigned to current music selection Two sets, one set for each music selection
Incongruent trials Visualize image assigned to other music selection Two sets, one set for each music selection
Method cont.
fMRI Measured Visualization Task Subjects will be given a blindfold to keep out external
visual stimulation For all conditions the subjects will be given the
visualization task and asked to begin visualizing at an auditory “go” signal and to stop visualizing at an auditory “stop” signal
Each trial will last 10s and there will be a 10s rest period before trails begin and between trials
Each subject will complete 10 trials per condition
Method cont.
fMRI Methods Data will be collapsed across subjects to
determine correlation between VVI score and visual cortex activation
The total brain activation for each trial will be subtracted from the total brain activation during the rest periods
Activation for control trails will be subtracted from activation for CT
IT will be subtracted from control IT will be subtracted from CT
Method cont.
Subjective Visualization TaskSubjects will be given a blindfold to keep
out external visual stimulation Subjects will perform control trials, CT,
and IT They will give their VVI reports during
each trial which will be tabulated
Results
ANOVAs will be run to determine if there are any significant differences between trails conditions
Pearson r will be run to determine if there is a significant correlation between subjective VVI score and visual cortex activation
Figure 1. Visual cortex activation relative to whole brain activation as a function of time. Data collapsed across trial condition.
Figure 2. Comparison of subjective VVI rating and visual cortex activation relative to whole brain activation. Trail condition categorized by color coding.
Discussion
This would should show that activation in one area of the brain could facilitate or hinder
activation in other parts of the brain
Limitations Only used classical music
Future Research Other fields where certain activation effects other
cognitive processes
Mozart:25
Arnold
2:05 2:43