Measuring the brain’s response to music and voice using EEG. A pilot study

Abstract

Every human brain is unique and complex, and while the technologies for understanding the brain have improved markedly over the years, there is still much to investigate and refine. Of particular interest is how the brain responds to music and speech, as these stimuli engage the auditory, motor, cognition, memory and emotion networks of the brain simultaneously. Understanding more about how the brain responds to auditory stimuli such as music and speech may inform treatments involving music therapy for patients. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a measure of electrical brain activity over time which typically involves extensive preparation of electrodes and wires. The development of commercially available wireless EEG headsets has made EEG experiments more accessible. Further investigation is necessary to define the capability of wireless EEG for measuring responses to auditory stimuli. The work conducted as part of this thesis reports on brain activity in response to the presentation of music and speech stimuli compared to a baseline rest state, as measured by both a clinical research-grade and a commercial wireless EEG system. Further investigating the capability of commercial EEG to measure response to music and speech may contribute to the development of technologies that could be used in conjunction with music or other therapies.