Music Therapy Today - World Federation of Music Therapy

Fachner, J. (2006) ‘Set and setting’ in an electrophysiological research paradigm on music perception under the influence of cannabis
and correlated brain function. Music Therapy Today (Online) Vol.VII (2) 333-374. available at http://musictherapyworld.net
brain. With the NeuroScience BrainImager®, source information is inter-
polated and therefore it provides spatial information about the distribu-
tion of cerebral changes. Amplitude and significance mapping (F.H.
Duffy, 1986; Maurer, 1989) can be used to identify and localize changes
of cerebral areas and their functional claims during perceptive states.
With these limitations in mind a research project, which compares pre/
post-THC-EEG changes gains topographical EEG data, gives us spatial
information on the cortex distribution of cannabis-induced electrophysio-
logical changes of neural activity. But the “map is not the landscape” and
so we can only conclude that the frequency changes accompany
(Machleidt et al., 1989) cannabis-induced alteration of music perception
in this particular case. After all, EEG research has gained lots of experi-
mental data that can be compared to similar experimental topics. To
research the real world situation of auditory changes an ethnographic
exploration in cannabis culture seems to be indicated first. This data
could be compared with upcoming laboratory data, subsequently.
METHODS To ensure a minimum of laboratory-setting bias, a non-blind pilot study
EXPERIMENTAL
SCHEDULE
was conducted with a mobile bedside EEG-Brain-mapping system in the
consumers” habituated setting of a living room. Four subjects (3 male/1
female) smoked a tobacco joint mixed with Nepalese hashish (hereafter
phrased as THC) and listened with closed eyes to three pieces of rock
music in a comfortable armchair. EEG was recorded through rest and
music listening periods.
FIGURE 1. Experimental schedule
• Baseline State: Pre-THC-EEG (music and rest - eyes closed)
• Listening to 3 Rock music pieces (defined order)
• 1 minute silence/rest between the songs
The Exploration 346