Changes in Concentration of Oxygenated Hemoglobin in the Prefrontal Cortex while Absorbed in Listening to Music

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the relation between changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during listening to music and the impression of that music. As an indicator of rCBF, the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (oxy-Hb) was adopted, as measured using near-infrared spectroscopy. In all, eight subjects participated in Experiment 1: we compared effects of music and noise played at three sound pressures. A significant decrease in rCBF was found in most subjects when listening to music at ca. 65 dB. Linear regression of evaluated items of impression against changes in rCBF was conducted, revealing that absorption had the largest coefficient of determination. In Experiment 2, two of the eight subjects compared effects of music of various kinds. Linear regression revealed the same results as Experiment 1, suggesting that some regions near the prefrontal cortex become active when a listener is absorbed in listening to music.