Biology subjects

Kondoh, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Kondoh, S..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Enhanced Subjective Performance Achievement in Wind Instrument Playing through Positive Memory Recall: Effects of Sympathetic Activation and Emotional Valence

Controlling physiological and psychological states before a performance is essential for professional musicians to realize their full potential. However, the characteristics of the optimal pre-performance state remain unclear. While an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity is typically observed before performance, when associated with anxiety, it can degrade the performance quality. This study examined whether recalling positive autobiographical performance memories enhances subjective performance achievement, accompanied by increased emotional arousal, valence, and autonomic nervous system activity. Thirty-six professional wind instrument players participated in the study. Prior to performing musical pieces, participants engaged in one of three conditions: (1) recalling positive autobiographical memories, (2) recalling negative autobiographical memories, or (3) imagining routine pre-performance activities (no-memory condition). During the memory recall phase, heart rate was measured. After each performance, participants rated their subjective arousal, valence, and performance achievement. We calculated the heart rate variability indices, specifically SD1 (reflecting parasympathetic nervous system activity) and SD2/SD1 (reflecting sympathetic nervous system activity). The results showed that performance achievement, arousal, and valence were significantly higher in the positive than in the negative condition. Our path analysis further revealed that an increase in SD2/SD1 did not directly predict performance achievement; instead, it was associated with an increase in emotional valence, which in turn led to improved performance. These findings suggest that recalling positive performance memories activates sympathetic nervous system activity and fosters positive emotions, thereby enhancing the performance achievement of professional musicians.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

A chill brain-music interface for enhancing music chills with personalized playlists

Music chills are pleasurable experiences while listening to music, often accompanied by physical responses, such as goosebumps1,2. Enjoying music that induces chills is central to music appreciation, and engages the reward system in the brain3-5. However, the specific songs that trigger chills vary with individual preferences6, and the neural substrates associated with musical rewards differ among individuals7-9, making it challenging to establish a standard method for enhancing music chills. In this study, we developed the Chill Brain-Music Interface (C-BMI), a closed-loop neurofeedback system that uses in-ear electroencephalogram (EEG) for song selection. The C-BMI generates personalized playlists aimed at evoking chills by integrating individual song preferences and neural activity related to music reward processing. Twenty-four participants listened to both self-selected and other-selected songs, reporting higher pleasure levels and experiencing more chills in their self-selected songs. We constructed two LASSO regression models to support the C-BMI. Model 1 predicted pleasure based on the acoustic features of the self-selected songs. Model 2 classified the EEG responses when participants listened to self-selected versus other-selected songs. Model 1 was applied to over 7,000 candidate songs, predicting pleasure scores. We used these predicted scores and acoustic similarity to the self-selected songs to rank songs that were likely to induce pleasure. Using this ranking, four tailored playlists were generated. Two playlists were designed to augment pleasure by selecting top-ranked songs, one of which incorporated real-time pleasure estimates from Model 2 to continuously update Model 1 and refine song rankings. Additionally, two playlists aimed to diminish pleasure, with one updated using Model 2. We found that the pleasure-augmenting playlist with EEG-based updates elicited more chills and higher pleasure levels than pleasure-diminishing playlists. Our results indicate that C-BMI using in-ear EEG data can enhance music-induced chills.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

A Nostalgia Brain-Music Interface for Enhancing Nostalgia, Well-Being, and Memory Vividness in Young and Elderly Individuals

Music-evoked nostalgia has the potential to assist in recalling autobiographical memories and enhancing well-being. However, nostalgic music preferences vary from person to person, presenting challenges for applying nostalgia-based music interventions in clinical settings, such as a non-pharmacological approach. To address these individual differences, we developed the Nostalgia Brain-Music Interface (N-BMI), a neurofeedback system that recommends nostalgic songs tailored to each individual. This system is based on prediction models of nostalgic feelings, developed by integrating subjective nostalgia ratings, acoustic features and in-ear electroencephalographic (EEG) data during song listening. To test the effects of N-BMI on nostalgic feelings, well-being, and memory recall, seventeen elderly and seventeen young participants took part in the study. The N-BMI was personalized for each individual, and songs were recommended under two conditions: the "nostalgia condition", where songs were selected to enhance nostalgic feelings, and the "control condition", to reduce nostalgic feelings. We found nostalgic feelings, well-being, and memory vividness were significantly higher after listening to the recommended songs in the nostalgia condition compared to the control condition in both groups. This indicates that the N-BMI enhanced nostalgic feelings, well-being, and memory recall across both groups. The N-BMI paves the way for innovative therapeutic interventions, including non-pharmacological approaches.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Spectral consistency in sound sequence affects perceptual accuracy in discriminating subdivided rhythmic patterns

Musical compositions are distinguished by their unique rhythmic patterns, determined by subtle differences in how regular beats are subdivided. Precise perception of these subdivisions is essential for discerning nuances in rhythmic patterns. While musical rhythm typically comprises sound elements with a variety of timbres or spectral cues, the impact of such spectral variations on the perception of rhythmic patterns remains unclear. Here, we show that consistency in spectral cues affects perceptual accuracy in discriminating subdivided rhythmic patterns. We conducted online experiments using rhythmic sound sequences consisting of band-passed noise bursts to measure discrimination accuracy. Participants were asked to discriminate between a swing-like rhythm sequence, characterized by a 2:1 interval ratio, and its more or less exaggerated version. This task was also performed under two additional rhythm conditions: inversed-swing rhythm (1:2 ratio) and regular subdivision (1:1 ratio). The center frequency of the band noises was either held constant or alternated between two values. Our results revealed a significant decrease in discrimination accuracy when the center frequency was alternated, irrespective of the rhythm ratio condition. This suggests that rhythm perception is not only shaped by temporal structure but also affected by spectral properties.

neuroscience↗