Mind-bending music Feeling like paella? Don’t blame it on the boogie, but you might be able to blame it on flamenco In one study she and her team asked participants to call a female student to tell her she could not take part in the study, even though she needed to in order to complete her course, or they were asked to tell another who’d been off sick they couldn’t have lecture material they’d been promised. Those who were asked to do these ‘favours’ were more likely to say yes if upbeat, easy listening music had been playing in the background. The reason for this willingness to do someone else’s dirty work? Being in a good mood can make you more compliant. “Music can also conjure stereotypes,” adds Ziv. “Think about how you might perceive someone who likes classical music compared to someone who likes country or pop.” She is currently working on a study to examine how these stereotypes impact how we might judge people we have just met. “People aren’t aware of how music colours your experience and the traits you attribute to people,” she says. Food for thought Music can also alter the way our other senses work. The music you listen to while eating could well change how your food tastes and even the type of food you crave. “The more we like the music, the more we like the food,” explains Charles Spence, a psychologist at the University of Oxford, who studies how our senses affect our experience of food. He and his colleagues have experimented with how music “ Music could be used as therapy for those with dementia and even acute pain can create ‘sonic seasoning’ in food and drinks, even creating menus with carefully curated musical accompaniments. Some research suggests that the simple tinkling of a piano can induce a sweeter taste. But many albums and singles can change mode midway through – such as Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody . This can alter the taste sensations you might experience while drinking the same glass of wine, according to some studies. But how you listen to the music can have an effect too. “Noise suppresses taste when it gets too loud,” says Spence. Music’s effect on our choice of food can also be profound. Listening to jazz led participants in one study to have a preference for savoury foods such as a vegetable sandwich, while classic music saw them reach for sweeter options. “We are rarely aware of music’s influence over our food and drink choices,” says Spence. “However, our food choice, and possibly the perceived authenticity of a dish, is affected by our semantic associations with music. For example, flamenco makes people more likely to order paella.” Music therapy But while Spence is hoping to harness music to enhance our dining experiences, there are others who believe music could have more wide ranging impacts on our wellbeing. It is common, for example, for people to use music to help them drift off to sleep. Some researchers have been using its strong connection to memory as a therapy for dementia patients. Others are using it to help treat PTSD sufferers. And one study has shown specially composed tracks might help to reduce levels of acute pain. Music has even been found to trigger immune-system changes that could be beneficial for fighting disease. They are all good reasons to put on a playlist we enjoy and let the music work its magic. But Brunel’s Costas Karageorghis has one small tip for when I get behind the wheel of a car: “Police often find vehicles with music blaring at the site of road accidents,” he reminds me. “We recommend a sound intensity of around 70dBA.” This should be loud enough to enjoy but not to mask the sounds of potential hazards. His research suggests that soft, non-lyrical music can be most effective at optimising the emotions of people when driving. So next time I get in the car, maybe I’ll put on a bit of Chopin… Magazine 04 59
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