The Effect of Self-Selected Music on Frontal Alpha Asymmetry After Experiencing a Cognitive Stressor
Date
2020-08
Authors
Wilson, Courtney A.
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Abstract
Music is an effective means for improving mood, decreasing negative affect and
anxiety, and increasing creativity (Chin & Rickard, 2014; Lynar et al., 2017). Recent
studies have demonstrated that frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) may reflect emotion
processing, with greater left FAA representing positive affect and greater right FAA
demonstrating negative affect (Arjmand et al., 2017). The purpose of this study was to
investigate if FAA shifts to the right (indicating decreased alpha power) after a cognitive
stressor, then to the left (indicating less alpha power) after listening to self-selected music
as a function of changes in state anxiety and mood. Exploratory correlations investigated
relationships between the self-reported affect and anxiety and changes in FAA.
Participants completed baseline EEG recordings and self-report scales. They then
completed a cognitive stressor (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task) and listened to a
self-selected song that “invokes positive mood” while EEG and self-reported mood were
monitored. The results indicated that positive affect increased and negative affect and
anxiety decreased after music. FAA did not change over time; however, frontal alpha
activity increased from baseline to stressor, and further while listening to music.
Correlations were found between changes in affect and self-report scales, but not with
EEG correlates. Results suggest that music is not relaxing in the traditional sense of the
word, in spite of improving state affect and anxiety, but could be representative of an
active state of attention in which creative ideation and intersensory processing may occur.
Description
Keywords
Frontal asymmetry, Cognitive psychology, Emotion regulation, Music
Citation
Wilson, C. A. (2020). <i>The effect of self-selected music on frontal alpha asymmetry after experiencing a cognitive stressor</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.