title: Independent component processes underlying emotions during natural music listening.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the brain processes underlying emotions during natural music listening. To address this, we recorded high-density electroencephalography (EEG) from 22 subjects while presenting a set of individually matched whole musical excerpts varying in valence and arousal. Independent component analysis was applied to decompose the EEG data into functionally distinct brain processes. A k-means cluster analysis calculated on the basis of a combination of spatial (scalp topography and dipole location mapped onto the Montreal Neurological Institute brain template) and functional (spectra) characteristics revealed 10 clusters referring to brain areas typically involved in music and emotion processing, namely in the proximity of thalamic-limbic and orbitofrontal regions as well as at frontal, fronto-parietal, parietal, parieto-occipital, temporo-occipital and occipital areas. This analysis revealed that arousal was associated with a suppression of power in the alpha frequency range. On the other hand, valence was associated with an increase in theta frequency power in response to excerpts inducing happiness compared to sadness. These findings are partly compatible with the model proposed by Heller, arguing that the frontal lobe is involved in modulating valenced experiences (the left frontal hemisphere for positive emotions) whereas the right parieto-temporal region contributes to the emotional arousal.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland Neuroimaging and Stroke Recovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 02215, Boston, MA, USA Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland lars.rogenmoser@uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rogenmoser
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zollinger
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elmer
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland International Normal Aging and Plasticity Imaging Center (INAPIC), University of Zurich, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland University Research Priority Program (URPP) "Dynamic of Healthy Aging," University of Zurich, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland Department of Special Education, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jäncke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology; D013826:Theta Rhythm; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ICA; alpha; music-evoked emotions; theta; valence and arousal