Measuring music's emotional impact?

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
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I just got home from a phenomenal performance of Verdi's Requiem... and we happen to have a good blood pressure measuring device in the house... my BP measures 88/66. My wife's measured as expected. My usual pressure is 110/70. I actually had a long day at work, and prior to the concert I had a full meal with dessert. So, what gives? Surely it's just one data point, but how do you feel after a satisfying listening event?
 
Relaxed, simply put.

Tom
 
Ack-Funny you mention this. I just heard something on TV last week where they said that they have proven that when people are driving and hear Elton John singing "Tiny Dancer" that their blood pressure drops. I don't know how they even decided to study the effect from that song, but maybe the good news is that music can affect our blood pressure in a positive way.
 
Good! And now I come to the real question I wanted to ask... Does your system have the same effect on you?
 
Ack-Funny you mention this. I just heard something on TV last week where they said that they have proven that when people are driving and hear Elton John singing "Tiny Dancer" that their blood pressure drops. I don't know how they even decided to study the effect from that song, but maybe the good news is that music can affect our blood pressure in a positive way.

Reggae, with its time signature that mimics the beat of the heart, can often induce a calming effect on the listener. Certainly works on me.
 
Reggae, with its time signature that mimics the beat of the heart, can often induce a calming effect on the listener. Certainly works on me.
That calming effect for you is probably coming for all of that weed you are smoking that you told us about. :D
 
That calming effect for you is probably coming for all of that weed you are smoking that you told us about. :D


Haha! That's funny! Anyone for a brownie?;)
 
I like, no love, the goose bump factor. It is personal yet profound.
 
I think an indwelling arterial line catheter for BP and dopamine probes carefully placed in the brain would be most accurate for pleasure measurements.:eek::eek:
 
. . . .when people are driving and hear Elton John singing "Tiny Dancer" that their blood pressure drops. I don't know how they even decided to study the effect from that song, but maybe the good news is that music can affect our blood pressure in a positive way.

I have found when listening to Panic at the Disco's album, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" while driving, that your blood pressure may not change but your speedometer will increase very considerably!
 
I have found when listening to Panic at the Disco's album, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" while driving, that your blood pressure may not change but your speedometer will increase very considerably!

LOL,.I have found the same with some movie soundtracks and CD's.
 
As an African American I had major difficulty expressing my emotional side. Toughness was what I grew up with. It took me a very long while before I was able to show emotions when I would hear Berlioz's or Faure's Requiems, A Mass For The End Of Time (Anonymous 4), Buxtehude's Jubilate Domino, KOR, (Choir), or William Byrd's Cantiones Sacrae, and other choral music as well as John Coltrane's (Love Supreme). Of course I had to look around to see if anyone was paying attention (smile). Finally, I've given in and carry tissues with me because I know it will happen and I must be prepared. What can one say with music as beautiful as this? There is so much beauty in music no matter where it originates.

jazzbo
 
As an African American I had major difficulty expressing my emotional side

Have you seen The Maurry Povich show?

That may have more to do with being male and coming from a tough neighborhood (I count three stereotypes)
 
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Ack-Funny you mention this. I just heard something on TV last week where they said that they have proven that when people are driving and hear Elton John singing "Tiny Dancer" that their blood pressure drops. I don't know how they even decided to study the effect from that song, but maybe the good news is that music can affect our blood pressure in a positive way.

Not if your blood pressure is normal to begin with...
 

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