Enjoying sad music
A test of the prolactin theory
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20407691 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Olivia Ladinig (School of Music, Ohio State University, USA), Charles Brooks (College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, USA), Charles L Brooks (0000-0002-8149-5417, The Ohio State University), Niels Chr Hansen (0000-0003-2142-6484, School of Music, Ohio State University, USA), Katelyn Horn, David Huron (0000-0001-5295-9457, School of Music, Ohio State University, USA, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 429-448 |
| Publication date | 2021-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Musicae Scientiae (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1029-8649 • E-ISSN: 2045-4147 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/1029864919890900 |
| OpenAlex | W2998071667 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 59 |
Philosophers have long wrestled with the apparent paradox of the enjoyment of negative emotional portrayals in the arts. An example of this apparent paradox is the enjoyment among some listeners of nominally sad music. An experiment is reported in which 39 participants listened to sad and happy music while serum prolactin (PRL) concentrations were measured. The purpose of the experiment was to test an a priori theory, proposed by Huron, that liking sad music is mediated by elevated PRL levels. Contrary to the theory, sad music did not result in a significant increase in PRL; nor was the pleasure of listening to sad music associated with increased PRL. Nominally happy music did result in a decrease of PRL, especially for those participants who most prefer happy music over sad music. The effect was greatest for those who score high on a measure of loneliness. Consistent with other studies, the degree of liking sad music over happy music was found to correlate with trait openness to experience, although this effect was not echoed in PRL levels. Post-hoc analyses indicate that PRL decreases were most marked for male listeners and those who score high on a loneliness measure. In general, the results are not consistent with the theory proposed by Huron
Happiness · Loneliness · Pleasure · Sadness · Trait · Diverse Music Education Insights · Music Therapy and Health · Neuroscience and Music Perception · Psychology · Social Psychology
Suffering Art Gladly
The neurochemistry of music
Who Enjoys Listening to Sad Music and Why?
A Short-Form Measure of Loneliness
Loneliness predicts reduced physical activity
Confidence intervals in within-subject designs
Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion
The Paradox of Music-Evoked Sadness
Why is sad music pleasurable? A possible role for prolactin
Shivers and Timbres
Why is Sad Music Pleasurable? A Possible Role for Prolactin
Psychologic stress increases plasma levels of prolactin, cortisol, and Pomc-derived peptides in man
Emotional responses to music
Prolactin—a hormone that mirrors passiveness in crisis situations
Sex differences in human motor activity level
| Citations per year | 1.2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2024 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |