Name:Miranda Hodder

School/Affiliation:McMaster University

Co-Authors:Segreto*, M., Hove, M., Bosnyak, D., Fink, L., Trainor, L., Cameron, D.

Virtual or In-person:In-person

Abstract:

Why does bass in music make us want to dance? Bass is particularly present in dance music, and bass instruments typically provide the steady pulse in music that we move to. A previous study showed that when very low frequency (VLF) sound was added to music at a concert, audience members danced with more energy—despite the VLFs being consciously imperceptible. It remains unclear what sensory and physiological mechanisms underlie this movement-boosting effect of VLFs, but one possibility is that the tactile system detects VLFs and causes an autonomic response which in turn increases movement energy. Our project will compare effects of VLFs presented to either auditory or vibrotactile systems and across a range of intensities. Participants will sit still while listening to music clips containing either auditory or tactile VLFs. The VLFs range in intensity from imperceptible to perceptible. Participants will rate each clip in terms of how much it makes them want to move. We will also collect participants’ spontaneous head movements, pupillometry, and galvanic skin response (GSR). We will compare urge-to-move ratings and head movement across the VLF modality and intensity conditions to assess effects on the urge to move. We will compare pupil responses and GSR across VLF conditions to assess effects on autonomic system responses. We will present preliminary data. Eventual results should provide novel insights about how bass contributes to music’s effects on movement and arousal.