Electroencephalographic dynamics of musical emotion perception revealed by independent spectral components

This study explores the electroencephalographic ( EEG) correlates of emotional experience during music listening. Independent component analysis and analysis of variance were used to separate statistically independent spectral changes of the EEG in response to music-induced emotional processes. An independent brain process with equivalent dipole located in the fronto-central region exhibited distinct delta-band and theta-band power changes associated with self-reported emotional states. Specifically, the emotional valence was associated with delta-power decreases and theta-power increases in the frontal-central area, whereas the emotional arousal was accompanied by increases in both delta and theta powers. The resultant emotion-related component activations that were less interfered by the activities from other brain processes complement previous EEG studies of emotion perception to music. NeuroReport 21: 410-415