Research article summary (published 5 May 2008):

Music in minor activates limbic structures: a relationship with dissonance?

Full Abstract

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we contrasted major and minor mode melodies controlled for liking to study the neural basis of musical mode perception. To examine the influence of the larger dissonance in minor melodies on neural activation differences, we further introduced a strongly dissonant stimulus, in the form of a chromatic scale. Minor mode melodies were evaluated as sadder than major melodies, and in comparison they caused increased activity in limbic structures, namely left parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral ventral anterior cingulate, and in left medial prefrontal cortex. Dissonance explained some, but not all, of the heightened activity in the limbic structures when listening to minor mode music.

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Author information

Author/s: Green, Anders C (AC); Baerentsen, Klaus B (KB); Stødkilde-Jørgensen, Hans (H); Wallentin, Mikkel (M); Roepstorff, Andreas (A); Vuust, Peter (P);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. anders@psy.au.dk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-May; vol 19 (issue 7) : pp 711-5

Dates: Created 2008/04/17; Completed 2008/07/29;

PMID: 18418244, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acoustic Stimulation Adult Auditory Perception - physiology Brain Mapping Cognitive Dissonance Emotions - physiology

Emotions - physiology Humans Image Processing, Computer-Assisted Limbic System - physiology Magnetic Resonance Imaging Music

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