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Musical mode and estimation of time
José Lino Oliveira Bueno1, Danilo Ramos
1Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil. jldobuen@ffclrp.usp.br
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|April 3, 2008
Summary
Dissonant music, specifically the Locrian mode, made participants perceive time as passing more slowly than consonant music (Ionian and Aeolian modes). This suggests unpleasant auditory stimuli can alter subjective time estimation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Music Perception
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Subjective time estimation is influenced by various factors, including emotional and cognitive states.
- Musical modes, characterized by their unique intervallic structures, can evoke different emotional responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different musical modes (Ionian, Aeolian, Locrian) on the subjective estimation of time.
- To explore the relationship between musical consonance/dissonance and perceived duration.
Main Methods:
- 108 non-musician undergraduate students were divided into three groups.
- Each group listened to a musical stimulus of identical harmonic structure but in a different mode (Ionian, Aeolian, or Locrian).
- Participants estimated the duration of the musical stimulus and rated their mood state.
Main Results:
- The Locrian mode (dissonant) was perceived as significantly longer in duration compared to the Ionian (consonant) and Aeolian (consonant) modes.
- A correlation was found between dissonant stimuli and a longer estimated duration.
Conclusions:
- Musical mode, specifically its consonance or dissonance, significantly affects subjective time perception.
- Unpleasant auditory experiences may lead to an overestimation of time duration.
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