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Here's an interesting piece from New Scientist: http://tinyurl.com/kq2a74

The obvious question is, does it work in blackout, of does the subject have to have their eyes shut?

Tomo wrote:Here's an interesting piece from New Scientist: http://tinyurl.com/kq2a74

The obvious question is, does it work in blackout, of does the subject have to have their eyes shut?

Very interesting. I imagine it works because of the imagination. So the ear lopping off scene in reservoir dogs is horrific because of what you IMAGINE is happening. Not what you see.

Therefore, I imagine it would work in a black out.

Also, in the article it had this:

ominous trombones

Which I think would make for a great band name.

Nowwwww, live at Wembley...THE OMINOUS TROMBOOOOOOONES

The closing comment is interesting (that positive, happy music might also be heightened). Another possible line for future study is to see whether scary stories are heightened in effect, or whether it's just music.

It's easy to measure fear by monitoring the amygdala and adrenalin levels, as they did here. Measuring happy emotions is a lot harder, I think.

Personally, I don't find myself emotionally affected by any kind of music. I can recognise the sort of music that we agree culturally is "scary" or "sad" or whatever, but it doesn't make me feel anything in particular. Do other people actually feel emotions when listening to music?

Robbie wrote: Do other people actually feel emotions when listening to music?

Yup... I even have anchors attached to some so i can almost force myself into a certain mind set.....

F x

Robbie wrote:Do other people actually feel emotions when listening to music?

Absolutely! It stirs me very soul.

Research a few years ago indicated that when blokes are driving, they drive faster if music from action adventure movies, especially James Bond movies, is playing. I'd guess that slower, more gentle music would tend to have a more calming effect.

As with radio plays where the scenery and character appearances are perfect because they exist in the listeners' imagination, music cetainly can stir emotions.

Some music, especially some trance, can give me a profound sense of euphoria. Agneli & Nelson's "Everyday" is one such track. And it goes without saying that the 4thmovement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony just puts me on another planet! Mind you, The Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the UK", "Holidays in the Sun" and "Pretty Vacant" all do the same to a lesser degree.

I usually play the guitar with my eyes shut, because I feel the music much better that way. I think a lot of blues musicians wear shades to hide the fact, that they are not looking at their audience

I also like to close my eyes at concerts (regardless of genre), which I suppose, makes me seem a little out of place with other people jumping around and shouting.

just draw eyes on your eyelids...

Hehe... or just shades.

That way people may think I'm the opening band or something...

Or a freak.

Hmm. I suppose I really am a sort of musical blank.

Colin (who is far more musical than me, despite being almost deaf) was trying to explain music and emotion from his point of view. He lost me altogether when he started equating it with poetry. "But that's WORDS," I said. "Entirely different."