Christidis, D. A. and Paraskevopoulos, E. The effects of consonant and dissonant intervals on human psychophysiology.
Abstract: Music perception has been a developing study field, for the last decades. The present research constitutes an effort to contribute towards the better understanding of music perception. The study examines the effects that music imposes on humans, or, more concretely on human psychophysiology. Specifically, it examines the effects of consonant and dissonant intervals on the activation level of the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS), with the hypothesis that the dissonant intervals will cause a more intense activation compared to the consonants. The study’s sample was constituted by 43 individuals, 19 - 23 years of age. Psychophysiological measurements of EMG (surface electromyography over the frontalis as well as the right upper trapezius muscles), EDA (recording of electrodermal activity) and skin temperature were used for the evaluation of the results. Moreover, the subjects were asked to complete Spielberger’s stress questionnaire (STAI), a psychophysiological symptoms check list, Beck’s depression inventory (BDI II) and the anger expression questionnaire by Spielberger. The results confirmed the hypothesis that the dissonant intervals cause a greater SNS activation.