Subjective and physiological responses to music stimuli controlled over activity and preference

Results of physiological responses to music are inconclusive considering re sults of several studies, probably due to the insufficient control of the m usical stimuli. The present study aimed to examine the effects of music typ e and preference on subjective and physiological responses using controlled stimuli by subjects' evaluations for music activity and preference. Subjec ts were 47 undergraduate students selected from a pool of 145 undergraduate s. Results of evaluations of music activity and music preference for musica l stimuli in preliminary research determined participation in the study. Th e music used in this study included the 4th movement of Tchaikovsky's Symph ony No. 4 as an excitative piece and the 3rd movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 as a sedative one. The excitative music aroused feelings of vigor and tension more than did the sedative one, while sedative music eased tension . Favorite music, regardless of music type, lowered subjective tension. Phy siological responses (heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure) were gre ater during excitative music than during sedative music. Music preference d id not, however, affect physiological responses. These results indicate tha t the dominant factor affecting emotional response was music type but not p reference.