Method for Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to Explore Music-Induced Brain Activation in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Music Psychology

Background:

• Musicians may enter a unique mental state during performance, characterized by immersion and detachment.
• Measuring this subjective experience and its neural correlates in real-time is challenging.
• Understanding brain dynamics during artistic creation can offer insights into human cognition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate real-time changes in brain activation of musicians during live orchestral performances.
• To explore whether brain activity patterns differ based on musical repetition.
• To develop and validate protocols for using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in ecological artistic settings.

Main Methods:

• Utilized wireless functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems to monitor hemodynamic changes in violinists.
• Recorded brain activation data from two violinists across seven sequential public concerts.
• Developed analysis protocols using Matlab toolboxes (Brainstorm, Homer2/Homer3) for "functional dissection" of brain activity.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the feasibility of measuring musicians' brain activation in real-time during concerts.
• Showcased how "functional dissection" can reveal alterations in mental states during artistic performance.
• Highlighted the potential for fNIRS to study brain dynamics in naturalistic art-production contexts.

Conclusions:

• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a viable tool for studying brain dynamics in musicians during live performance.
• The study provides a framework for "functional dissection" to understand cognitive states in artists.
• Findings suggest brain activation can be objectively measured and may vary with the performance context and repetition.