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Event-related potential changes on listening to specific modes of Indian music in healthy young individuals – a randomized controlled trial
Kirthana Kunikullaya U, Arun Sasidharan, Ramya V, Vijayadas, Radhika Kunnavil, Vrinda Marigowda, Sumit Sharma, Jaisri Goturu, Nandagudi Srinivasa Murthy

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1. What inspired you to explore the effects of Indian Ragas on cognitive engagement and attention?

Our inspiration stemmed from the long-standing belief in Indian classical music traditions that specific Ragas can evoke distinct emotions and mental states. Despite the rich history of music therapy, most existing studies have focused on Western music, and very few have examined the neurophysiological effects of Indian classical music on attention and cognitive engagement. Given that cognition and attention play crucial roles in learning and mental well-being, we wanted to investigate whether specific Indian Ragas influence these processes differently. Additionally, with the increasing use of music in cognitive training and therapy, it was essential to scientifically assess how different Ragas engage the brain, using objective measures like event-related potentials (ERPs).

2. Can you briefly explain how event-related potentials (ERPs) help measure attention and cognitive processing in response to music?

ERPs are time-locked brain responses to sensory stimuli and are widely used in cognitive neuroscience to study attention and information processing. ERPs consist of several components, each linked to different stages of cognitive processing. In our study, we focused on two key components:

• N1 (Negative 1): An early component that reflects pre-attentive sensory processing and initial stimulus detection.
• P3 (Positive 3 or P300): A later component associated with attention allocation and cognitive resource engagement.

By measuring the amplitude and latency of these components before, during, and after listening to Indian Ragas, we assessed how different modes of music influenced the brain’s ability to detect and process external stimuli. If a particular Raga engaged cognitive resources strongly, we expected lower P3 amplitudes (indicating reduced attention to external stimuli) and prolonged N1 latencies (suggesting deeper internal engagement).

3. Your study found that different Ragas influenced cognitive engagement in distinct ways. Could you elaborate on why these differences might occur?

The distinct effects of different Ragas on cognitive engagement can be attributed to their unique musical structures, which influence brain activity in different ways:

• Raga Miyan ki Todi: This Raga increased beta and gamma power in the frontal and right temporal regions, suggesting heightened alertness and cognitive engagement. However, it also reduced P3 amplitude, indicating reduced attention to external stimuli. This suggests it promotes an immersive cognitive state while listening.
• Raga Malkauns: This pentatonic Raga led to a significant delay in N1 latency and a reduction in P3 amplitude after listening, suggesting it induced a relaxed yet internally engaged state.
• Raga Puriya: It had a milder effect on N1 but increased P3 latency after the intervention, implying it modulated cognitive engagement without strongly disrupting external attention.

These differences arise from variations in musical scale (pentatonic, hexatonic, heptatonic), tone combinations, and cultural familiarity. Previous studies suggest that music’s emotional and cognitive impact is linked to its spectral and rhythmic complexity, which can differentially engage the brain.

4. What implications do your findings have for the design of music-based interventions, particularly in cognitive training and therapy?

Our findings provide valuable insights for designing music-based cognitive interventions. Specifically:

• Targeted Therapy for Cognitive Disorders: Certain Ragas could be chosen based on their effects on attention and engagement. For instance, Raga Miyan ki Todi, which increased cognitive engagement but reduced external attention, could be useful for individuals struggling with focus and internalization (e.g., ADHD or autism).
• Stress Reduction & Mindfulness: Raga Malkauns’ ability to prolong N1 latency suggests its potential for relaxation-based cognitive therapy.
• Enhanced Learning Environments: Since music can modulate attention allocation, specific Ragas could be integrated into educational settings to optimize focus.

These findings support the idea that personalized music therapy could be an effective non-invasive tool for cognitive enhancement.

5. Your study challenges the dominant argument that music enhances general attention. How do you see this shaping future research or clinical applications?

Our study suggests that rather than broadly enhancing attention, music selectively modulates attention based on its structure. This challenges the generalization that all music improves cognitive engagement. Future research should focus on:

• Personalized Music Interventions: Identifying how different genres and structures of music influence specific cognitive processes.
• Clinical Applications for Attention Disorders: Since some Ragas reduced attention to external stimuli, they could be tested for conditions like ADHD, where selective focus is impaired.
• Neural Mechanisms of Music Processing: Further neuroimaging studies could examine how different Ragas interact with brain networks involved in attention and working memory.

6. Why did you choose Raga Miyan ki Todi, Raga Malkauns, and Raga Puriya for this study? Are there specific musical features that make them uniquely engaging?

These Ragas were chosen based on Indian music literature and their traditionally associated emotional and cognitive effects:

• Raga Miyan ki Todi (Heptatonic): Known for its intense character, it is believed to induce a deep, contemplative mood, making it ideal for examining focused cognitive engagement.
• Raga Malkauns (Pentatonic): Often associated with tranquility and introspection, it was selected to study relaxation-related cognitive effects.
• Raga Puriya (Hexatonic): Considered to evoke a mixture of longing and calmness, it provided a contrast between arousing and relaxing musical elements.

Each Raga has a unique tonal structure, and our results show that these musical differences significantly impact cognitive processing.

7. How did the effects of music compare to the control intervention using nature sounds? Were there any surprising findings?

Compared to the control group (which listened to intermittent nature sounds), all three Raga groups exhibited distinct changes in ERP components:

• The control group showed no significant change in P3 amplitude, suggesting that passive listening to nature sounds did not strongly modulate cognitive engagement.
• The music groups exhibited a reduction in P3 amplitude, indicating that they were more cognitively engaged by the music, leading to reduced attention to external stimuli.
• Surprisingly, Raga Malkauns had a sustained effect even after the music stopped, suggesting long-term changes in cognitive engagement.

This suggests that while natural sounds may have calming effects, structured musical compositions like Ragas can actively shape cognitive processing.

8. Given your findings, how might music therapists or clinicians use specific Ragas to help patients with attention-related challenges?

Music therapists can tailor interventions based on individual cognitive needs:

• For Anxiety and Overstimulation: Raga Malkauns may help due to its relaxing and internally engaging properties.
• For Focus and Cognitive Training: Raga Miyan ki Todi could enhance cognitive engagement while reducing external distractions.
• For Mindfulness and Relaxation: Raga Puriya’s modulation of attention makes it suitable for meditation and stress reduction therapies.

Clinicians can integrate these findings into music-based cognitive remediation for conditions like ADHD, schizophrenia, and dementia.

9. Do you foresee your research influencing broader cognitive neuroscience or music psychology studies?

Absolutely. Our study highlights:

• The Need for Cross-Cultural Studies: Most music cognition research is based on Western music. Our work demonstrates the importance of studying non-Western musical traditions.
• A More Nuanced Understanding of Music and Attention: Future research can explore how different tonal structures affect cognitive processes beyond attention, such as memory and decision-making.
• Potential Applications in AI and Music Therapy: Understanding how music engages cognition could inform the development of AI-driven personalized music therapy tools.

10. What are the next steps for your research? Are there particular aspects of music and cognition you would like to explore further?

Future directions include:

• Investigating Long-Term Effects: Do these Raga-induced cognitive changes persist beyond the immediate post-listening phase?
• Comparing Trained vs. Untrained Listeners: Do musicians and non-musicians respond differently to these Ragas?
• Establish standards of physiological measures with other Indian Ragas

These studies could further our understanding of music’s role in cognition and its therapeutic applications.

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