Music, Thought, and Feeling Understanding the Psychology of Music

by Thompson, William Forde

• ISBN13: 9780199947317
• ISBN10: 0199947317
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-02-28
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Examining the intersection of music, psychology, and neuroscience, Music, Thought, and Feeling, Second Edition, surveys the rapidly growing field of music cognition and explores its most interesting questions. Assuming minimal background in music or psychology, the book begins with an overview of the major theories on how and when music became a widespread aspect of human behavior.

It also covers:
* How humans perceive music
* Links between music and emotion
* Modern neuroimaging techniques and what they tell us about music's effect on the brain
* Psychological processes involved in imagining, composing, and performing music
* Potential cognitive benefits of musical engagement

Students:
Visit the free companion website for a variety of resources

Author Biography

William Forde Thompson is Professor of Psychology at Macquarie University, where he conducts research on music, emotion, and performance. He has served as President of the Society for Music Perception and Cognition (2006-2008), Associate Editor at Music Perception, and Editor of Empirical Musicology Review.

Table of Contents

* Every chapter begins with learning outcomes and ends with Additional Readings
Preface
1. Introduction
Overview of Book Contents
Abiding Controversies
Recent Areas of Research Growth
2. Origins of Music
Prehistoric Music
Adaptationist Accounts
Theories Based on Reproductive Benefits
Theories Based on Survival Benefits
Nonadaptationist Accounts
Precursors to Music
3. Musical Building Blocks
The Elements of Sound
Periodic Motion
The Discovery of Music Within Sound
Sensory Consonance and Dissonance
Tuning Systems
Sensitivity to Pitch
Models of Pitch Perception
Absolute Pitch
Timbre
Reconstructing Music
4. Perceiving Music Structure
Arrangements of Sounds
Relative Pitch
Melodic Contour
Scale Structure
Large-Scale Structure
Melodic Expectancies
Implicit Memory for Music
Implied Harmony
Musical Key
Implied Key
Rhythm
5. Music Acquisition
Musical Infants
Music in the Womb
Investigating Music Perception Among Infants
Melodic Contour
Consonance and Dissonance
Pitch Relations
Scale Structure
Phrase Structure
Harmony
Key
Rhythm
Memory for Music
Learning and Enculturation
6. Music and the Brain
What's in a Brain?
The Search for Music Inside the Brain
Neurological Disorders
Techniques of Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging and Music
A Rapidly Evolving Field
7. Music and Emotion
Emotion Work
Emotion and Cognition
Theories of Music and Emotion
Empirical Studies
Do Listeners Agree on the Emotional Meaning of Music?
How Do Listeners Respond Emotionally to Music?
Compositional and Expressive Signals of Emotion
What Properties of Music Lead to an Emotional Response?
Is There a Universal Link Between Music and Emotion?
Sources of Emotion in Music
8. Music and Wellbeing
Music as Therapy
Infants and Children
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Music and Pain
Anxiety and Depression
Impairment Following Stroke
Melodic Intonation Therapy
Diseases of the Elderly
Dementia
Parkinson's Disease
Negative Effects of Music on Wellbeing
9. Performing Music
Playing Music
Acquiring Performance Skill
Communicating Musical Structure
Communicating Emotional Meaning
Singing
Improvising
Gestures and Facial Expressions
Evaluating Performance
The Craft of the Performer
10.
Composing Music
The Radius of Creativity
Composers and Listeners
Cognitive Constraints on Composition
Composing with Multiple Voices
Where Do New Ideas Come From?
The Craft of Music Composition
11. Music and Other Abilities
Is Music Unique?
Short-Term Effects of Music
Long-Term Benefits of Music
Educational Implications
Glossary
References
Author Index
Subject Index