‘Music has the power to mould human behaviour and character.’ – Aristotle
We all know that there is a tremendous nexus between a musical piece and our moods. Sometimes when we feel down and depressed, a musical piece which wafts through the air lends us a sudden energy that we overcome our 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, very 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 practice Indian music. In the Indian system of music- particularly in the Carnatic system of music, 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 intended by 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. This results in a more accurate perception of sounds, which also enables 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, who is considered as the ‘father of psychoacoustics’ has no doubt kick-started this approach. With the grand arrival of computers and its 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 programs is now possible for the researchers of psychoacoustics.
In the realm of application-specific music and sound, psycho acoustically-designed soundtracks currently revolve around the following concepts and techniques: resonance or tone; entertainment or rhythm and sonic neurotechnologies, which represent a highly specialized 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.
Bibliography
Bagchi, Kalyan. (Ed) 2003. Music, Mind and Mental Health New Delhi.
Crandall, joanne.1986. Self-Tram formation through Music. First Indian edition: 2001, New Age books, Delhi
Gaynor, M. 1993. The Healing Power of Sound, Voice and Music Menon
Raghava R. 1995. The Penguin Dictionary of Indian Classical Music.
Sairam, T.V. 2004 Medicinal Music Chennai: Nada Centre for Music Therapy Sairam, TV. 2004 Raga Therapy Chennai: Nada Centre for Music Therapy
This article was presented in 2nd National Seminar on Music Therapy – 2019
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, August 4, 2021