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Effects of familiar voices on brain activity
Author(s) -
Tanaka Yuji L,
Kudo Yumi
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-172x.2012.02027.x
Subject(s) - active listening , brain activity and meditation , psychology , silence , audiology , set (abstract data type) , developmental psychology , electroencephalography , medicine , communication , neuroscience , art , computer science , programming language , aesthetics
This study aimed to examine the extent to which a familiar voice influences brain activity. Participants were nine healthy female volunteers aged 21–34 years old (with a mean age of 25.78 ± 4.04 years). Brain activity was recorded during periods of silence, familiar and unfamiliar voices. Electroencephalographic data were collected and analyzed using a frequency rate set at 5 min. To account for emotional influences imbedded into the contents of the voice stimuli, both the voice of a familiar family member and the voice of a stranger were used to record a well‐known Japanese fairy tale, ‘Momotaro’. Results revealed that listening to familiar voices increased the rate of the β band (13–30 Hz) in all four brain areas (F3, F4, C3 and C4). In particular, increased activity was observed at F4 and C4. Findings revealed that in study, participants' familiar voices activated cerebral functioning more than unfamiliar voices.