MUSC 180

MUSC 180: Psychology of Music

Prerequisites: Music major or permission of instructor

Credit Hours: (2)

This lecture-based course includes an examination of physical and psychological aspects of music and its influence on human behavior. Topics include music perception and cognition, musical development, emotional response to music, and psychological foundations of various types of music experiences

Detailed Description of Course Content

Acoustics and psychoacoustics
Anatomy of hearing
- outer, middle, inner ear, auditory nerve structures and functions
Music and the brain/perception of music
- structure/function of the brain
  - hemisphericity
  - triune brain structures and functions
  - speech and language functions/dysfunction (i.e. aphasia)
  - motor function/dysfunction (i.e. cerebral palsy, stroke)
- structure/function of the nervous system
  - sympathetic and parasympathetic systems and function
  - functional relation to other physiological systems
Additional major physiological systems of the human body
- immune
- endocrine
- cardio-pulmonary

Psychophysiological response to stress
- fight/flight
- stress adaptation
Evolution of western music/scale systems
Psychological effects of music elements including nature of consonance and dissonance
Aesthetics and affect
Creativity
Ability and aptitude
Learning theory with emphasis to music learning

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This course may include the following instructional strategies: lecture, student development of materials, student presentations, cooperative/group learning, writing-to-learn activities, oral communication activities.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

The following professional competencies as outlined by the American Music Therapy Association will be addressed in this course.

Emphasized:

The physiological aspects of the musical experience including, but not limited to, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and psychomotor responses.

The psychological aspects of musical behavior and experience including, but not limited to, perception, cognition, affective response, learning, development, preference, and creativity.

The ability to demonstrate a basic understanding of the primary neurological processes of the brain.

The ability to interpret physiological and biopsychosocial information in the professional research literature.

Assessment Measures

Mid-term and final exams, a series of papers across the semester designed to develop writing in the discipline, quizzes, and a final presentation.

Other Course Information

Review and Approval

April, 2019