Abstract
One hundred introductory psychology students were given tasks that caused their skin temperatures to either fall or rise. Then they listened to two musical selections, one of which they rated as evoking arousing, negative emotions while the other was rated as evoking calm, positive emotions. During the first musical selection that was presented, the arousing, negative emotion music terminated skin temperature increases and perpetuated skin temperature decreases, whereas the calm, positive emotion selection terminated skin temperature decreases and perpetuated skin temperature increases. During the second musical selection, skin temperature tended to increase whichever music was played; however, the increases were significant only during the calm, positive emotion music. It was concluded that music initially affects skin temperature in ways that can be predicted from affective rating scales, although the effect of some selections may depend upon what, if any, music had been previously heard.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Clynes, M., & Nettheim, N. (1982). The living quality of music: Neurobiological basis of communicating feeling. In M. Clynes (Ed.),Music, mind, and brain (pp. 47–82). New York: Plenum Press.
Howell, D. (1982).Statistical methods for psychology (pp. 378–383). Boston: Duxbury Press.
Nielzen, S., & Cesarec, Z. (1981). On the perception of emotional meaning in music.Psychology of Music, 9 17–31.
Nielzen, S., & Cesarec, Z. (1982). Emotional experience of music structure.Psychology of Music, 10 7–17.
Pearce, K. A. (1981). Effects of different kinds of music on physical strength.Perceptual and Motor Skills, 53 351–352.
Rieber, M. (1965). The effect of music on the activity level of children.Psychonomic Science, 3 325–326.
Sundberg, J. (1982). Speech, song, and emotions. In M. Clynes (Ed.),Music, mind, and brain (pp. 137–149). New York: Plenum Press.
Taub, E., & School, P. J. (1978). Some methodological considerations in thermal biofeedback training.Behavior Research Methods and Instrumentation, 10 617–622.
Weld, H. P. (1912). An experimental study of musical enjoyment.American Journal of Psychology, 23 245–308.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McFarland, R.A. Relationship of skin temperature changes to the emotions accompanying music. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation 10, 255–267 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999346
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999346