Psychoacoustics

‘Music has the power to mould human behaviour and character.’ — Aristotle 

“There is a tremendous nexus between a musical piece and our moods. Sometimes when we are depressed, a musical piece, which wafts through the air, lends us a sudden energy to overcome depression, forgetting our worries.

Psychoacoustics essentially refers to a study of the perception of sound. The study includes how we listen and respond to a piece of music, and how such music affects us physiologically.

In the study of psychoacoustics, the terms such as music, sound, frequency, vibration, etc. are interchangeable to one another. It dissects our listening experience, much like a surgeon who dissects our organs and tissues so as to make us healthy and happy. 

In recent years, researchers have found that slightly detuned tones can cause brainwaves to speed up or slow down. It is an important discovery – particularly for those who preach or practise Indian music. In the Indian system of music – particularly in the Carnatic system there is an elaborate concept of `dasavidha gamakas’. There are thus ten possible ways with which a tone can be shaken to produce an appropriate mood as attributed to the particular raga.

In recent years, soundtracks are filtered and gated through a sophisticated engineering process. This creates a random sonic event. It is said that such events trigger an active listening response as it tonifies the auditory mechanism including the tiny muscles of the middle ear, resulting in a more accurate perception of sounds, and enabling improvement in one’s speech and communication. 

While a psychological response could occur with filtered and gated sounds, or detuned tones, (as in Indian raga system), the direct impact, however, seems to be physiological, or neurological.

Psychoacoustics, in recent years, is thus concentrating on both the neurological and psychological impact of resonance and frequencies on the human body. The pioneering work done by the French doctor, Alfred Tomatis, considered as the ‘father of psychoacoustics’ has no doubt initiated this approach. 

With the arrival of computers and their opening up of new possibilities of measuring brainwaves, heart rates and other body pulsations, specific uses and benefits of different genres of music could be documented more scientifically. Thus, gauging the benefits of selected pieces of music for the body, mind and psyche through neuro-feedback and other computer programmes is now possible for the researchers of psychoacoustics.

In the realm of application – specific music and sound, psychoacoustically-designed soundtracks currently revolve around the following concepts and techniques: resonance or tone; entrainment or rhythm and sonic neurotechnologies, which represent a highly specialised sound processing technique. Thus, we don’t have to wait any longer for prescribing symptom-specific, application-specific or milieu-specific music in the most scientific manner.

This Journal was Published in Bhavan Journal October 15, 2007

Edited by Geeta Shreedar, July 15, 2021