10.07.2015 Views

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

group coordination through rhythmo-affective semantics that express fundamentalemotions. The feeling <strong>of</strong> toge<strong>the</strong>rness that communal music indicates that feeling part<strong>of</strong> a system such as a style <strong>of</strong> music has healing effects on what could be homeostaticimbalance in illness <strong>and</strong> dis-ease The effect <strong>of</strong> music in <strong>the</strong> release <strong>of</strong> opioids isresponsible for carrying out <strong>the</strong> biological effects <strong>of</strong> music. The release <strong>of</strong> naturalopioids <strong>and</strong> serotonin stimulates <strong>the</strong> immunological system <strong>and</strong> produces a sense <strong>of</strong>euphoria, certainty, <strong>and</strong> belongingness.A wide range <strong>of</strong> ritual healing activities induces <strong>the</strong> production <strong>and</strong> release <strong>of</strong>endogenous opioids which have similar mood enhancing properties as someantidepressants such as Prozac (Linnett 2005). Ritual music for healing produces <strong>the</strong>release <strong>of</strong> endogenous opioids through exhaustive rhythmic movement (e.g., dancing<strong>and</strong> clapping); temperature extremes (cold or sweat lodges); austerities (water <strong>and</strong> fooddeprivation, flagellation, self-inflicted wounds); emotional manipulations (fear <strong>and</strong>positive expectations); <strong>and</strong> night time activities, when endogenous opioids are naturallyhighest (Prince 1982, Winkelman 1998 <strong>and</strong> 2000). Valle <strong>and</strong> Raymond (1989) <strong>and</strong>Prince (1982) hypo<strong>the</strong>sized that endogenous opioids enhance coping skills,maintenance <strong>of</strong> bodily homeostasis, pain reduction, stress tolerance, environmentaladaptation, <strong>and</strong> group psychobiological synchronization.9.4. Physiological Effects <strong>of</strong> MusicAccording to Osterman (1998), music can influence <strong>the</strong> nervous system withoutaffecting <strong>the</strong> brain. Sound waves <strong>and</strong> sympa<strong>the</strong>tic vibrations on <strong>the</strong> ear drums aretransformed to chemical <strong>and</strong> nerve impulses which register different sounds that we290

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!