Neural Mechanism of the Emotional Process During the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music: A Functional...

Music can evoke profound emotions and autobiographical memories. The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM) is a music therapy approach that uses music-evoked imagery to elicit emotions and promote self-exploration. To investigate the neural mechanisms of BMGIM, 22 healthy university students were recruited, of whom 21 were included in the final analysis. Brain activity was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during a Music Only session and a BMGIM session based on a standardized BMGIM music program. Mood changes were assessed using the Profile of Mood States 2. NIRS data were analyzed using a region-of-interest (ROI)-based approach. Reduced negative mood scores were observed in both sessions, with depression-dejection showing a significant reduction only following BMGIM but not after listening to music alone. In the third piece of music, which was structurally associated with the deepest phase of the BMGIM experience, increased oxygenated hemoglobin responses were observed during BMGIM compared to listening to music alone. After statistical correction, significant condition-dependent effects were observed only in the orbitofrontal cortex, with trends in other regions directionally consistent with the channel-based analyses. The present findings suggest that BMGIM engages the orbitofrontal cortex during emotional processing and specifically reduces depression-dejection. These findings highlight its potential as a clinically meaningful intervention for individuals with depression. Future studies should employ more rigorous experimental designs with larger and more diverse samples to elucidate the mechanisms underlying BMGIM.