Differences in brain electrical activity between musicians and non-musicians while listening to 440 Hz and 432 Hz musical compositions

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 127 - 140, 30.06.2025

Hasan Batuhan Dirik , Cemile Bengi Baraz Çınar

https://doi.org/10.12975/rastmd.20251322

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of music played at 432 Hz and 440 Hz on brain electrical activity, considering the specialization in music. The study included 11 non-musicians and 10 musicians, with participants completing two sessions, 24 hours apart. In the first session, participants listened to the 432 Hz Samuel Osmond Barber “Adagio for Strings Op. 11” and the 440 Hz Petrovich Mussorgsky “Night on Bald Mountain” compositions. In the second session, the 440 Hz “Adagio for Strings Op. 11” and the 432 Hz “Night on Bald Mountain” were performed. Brain electrical activity was assessed using coherence and Power Spectral Density (PSD) methods. The results revealed differences in brain electrical activity between musicians and non-musicians when listening to music at different frequencies. In the PSD analysis, a two-way ANOVA showed a significant group effect (p < 0.05; ηp2=0.086) in the O1 channel within the theta frequency. Post hoc Tukey HSD tests revealed that O1 theta values were higher in musicians. Additionally, a significant frequency effect was observed in the Pz channel within the theta frequency (p<0.05; ηp2=0.128), with 440 Hz producing higher Pz theta values. In the T8 channel, a significant frequency effect was found across the alpha 1, alpha 2, and beta 1 bands (p<0.05; ηp2=0.103, 0.102, 0.118), with higher values observed at 440 Hz, but no significant group effect or interaction between group and frequency. Furthermore, coherence analysis indicated higher coherence values in the fronto-occipital region while listening to music at 432 Hz (p<0.05; ηp2=0.101). In conclusion, the findings suggest that music frequency can influence brain activity and that there are significant differences in brain responses between musicians and non-musicians.

Keywords

connectivity, EEG, frequency, music therapy, musical expertise

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the ethical committee of Anadolu University (329087).

Supporting Institution

Ethical Committee of Anadolu University

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