IIT Mandi finds out why we listen to sad music in times of sadness

The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the brain activity of 20 people under different conditions. They focused on brain regions involved in emotion and memory processing.

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi have carried out a research on 'tragedy paradox' to find out as to why people listen to sad music even when they are sad.  

The study has been led by IIT Mandi Director Prof Laxmidhar Behera. He said, “We wanted to find out how the brain reacts when listening to sad music after having an adverse experience or memory.” For this, the researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the brain activity of 20 people under different conditions. They focused on brain regions involved in emotion and memory processing: the cingulate cortex complex and the parahippocampus. 

The 20 participants had no musical training to avoid pre-programmed reactions to the selected music.  EEG was measured under three states.  In the first, EEG was recorded with no input – the baseline.  In the second state, EEG was recorded as the participants recalled a sad experience and wrote about it – the Sad Autobiographical Recall or SAR condition.  In the third, EEG was measured when they were made to listen to an Indian Classical Raga, Mishra Jogiya Raga. The music was selected by a panel of five music experts and is known for invoking Karuna Rasa (sad emotions). 

EEG measures the electrical activity of the brain, commonly known as the brain waves.  It is known that brain waves are of five types – alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta, representing a different mood/state of mind.  Within the current context Alpha is, for example, associated with cognitive information processing, while gamma is associated with episodic memory processing. 

Listening to sad music leads to increased alpha brain activity

The researchers found that when recalling a sad experience (i.e. during SAR), there is enhanced gamma wave activity, while listening to sad music leads to increased alpha brain activity. 

Prof Behera said, “Listening to Mishra Jogiya Raga (sad music) appears to promote processing of emotions and memories in the brain, through a three-channel framework involving the alpha brain wave. These mechanisms include increased global and local connectivity in brain areas involved in emotion and memory processing, and increased alertness.” 

The finding shows that the brain's activity when listening to sad music is unique and distinct from both the SAR state and the baseline resting state. The coping mechanism of sad music arises from better processing of emotions and memories under the alpha state. 

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