EEG Responses to Arabic Music Scales

An EEG-based Exploration of the Variables Affecting Cortical Responses to Arabic Music Scales for a Personalised and Effective Music Therapy in the Middle East: a Clinical Study

Recent studies showed that various factors can contribute to the efficiency of a music therapy such as the type of music used, the type of instrument, the ethnicity, musical preference of the subjects and many others. Investigators noticed that most of studies and clinical trials, while acknowledging the importance of ethnicity and musical preferences, use the Western Music type in their investigations and practice. While in the Middle East, Music Therapy played a tremendous role in the 10th century since the "scales theory" of the famous Scientists El Farabi and Avicenna, very little countries of the Middle East are investing in scientific studies using Arabic Music as a therapeutic tool. This study will be an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based investigation on correlations of multiple factors that can influence the cortical responses of the subject to the music and self-reported state of emotion and anxiety.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Music listening / EEG recording

Detailed Description

This is the first clinical study involving Music in Qatar and the Gulf region, and the first study to explore Arab Music Scales using a combination of EEG and self-reported assessements.

Using EEG, investigators will analyze the full brain activity of brainwaves produced by up to 100 subjects in response to the audio musical stimuli. 24 different audio recordings have been designed to investigate on different acoustic cues:

• with versus without quartertones
• known music versus improvisation
• Maqam Saba (sad) versus maqam Kurd (happy)
• 3 different Middle Eastern instruments: Ney, Oud and Qanun
• Two pitches: from Re or from Sol

The presentation of the audio stimuli clips will be randomized by the SuperLab5 software and EEG brainwaves will be recorded using the Power Lab (AD instrument). Between every audio clip, recording will be paused to ask the subjects to self-report on their emotional and anxiety states using a self-evaluation questionnaire. Subjects will be randomly assigned to morning of afternoon sessions of recording.

Using bioinformatic tools, investigators will perform a correlation study between EEG results, emotional self-report from the PANAS-X questionnaire, as well as answers to another questionnaire asking for their age, gender, ethnicity, right or left handedness, musical preferences, and if the subject plays an instrument.

The outcomes will have direct applications on the development of personalized Music Therapy in the region for treatment and management of mental health conditions, neurodegenerative diseases and other conditions that are of high prevalence in the region.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 42
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Qatar
  • Doha, Qatar, 24144
    • Ghizlane Bendriss

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age: 18 years old to or above (might include pregnant women)
2. Living in Qatar
3. Understand either English or arabic

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals not meeting the inclusion criteria
2. Individuals with auditory impairments
3. Individuals with any known neurological condition (including epilepsy, Alzheimer, Parkinson, Autism etc)
4. Individuals not able to come to the site (WCMQ).
5. Adults not able to consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

26

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Before intervention; Participants answer questionnaire before any stimulus is given.
No Intervention: After intervention; Participants answer questionnaire after the series of stimulus is given.
Experimental: N1 (Ney - Improvisation- Saba Re); Improvisation with Ney, on Saba maqam on Re.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: O1 (Oud - Improvisation- Saba Re); Improvisation with Oud, on Saba maqam on Re.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: Q1(Qanun - Improvisation- Saba Re); Improvisation with Qanun, on Saba maqam on Re.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: N2 (Ney - Improvisation- Saba Sol); Improvisation with Ney, on Saba maqam on Sol.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: O2 (Oud - Improvisation- Saba Sol); Improvisation with Oud, on Saba maqam on Sol.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: Q2 (Qanun - Improvisation- Saba Sol); Improvisation with Qanun, on Saba maqam on Sol.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: N3 (Ney - Improvisation- Kurd Re); Improvisation with Ney, on Kurd maqam on Re.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: O3 (Oud - Improvisation- Kurd Re); Improvisation with Oud, on Kurd maqam on Re.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: Q3 (Qanun - Improvisation- Kurd Re); Improvisation with Qanun, on Kurd maqam on Re.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: N4 (Ney - Improvisation- Kurd Sol); Improvisation with Ney, on Kurd maqam on Sol.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: O4 (Oud - Improvisation- Kurd Sol); Improvisation with Oud, on Kurd maqam on Sol.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: Q4 (Qanun - Improvisation- Kurd Sol); Improvisation with Qanun, on Kurd maqam on Sol.	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: N5 (Ney - Known music- Kurd Re); Known music with Ney, on Kurd maqam on Re. (El Rabii)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: O5 (Oud - Known music- Kurd Re); Known music with Oud, on Kurd maqam on Re. (El Rabii)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: Q5 (Qanun - Known music- Kurd Re); Known music with Qanun, on Kurd maqam on Re. (El Rabii)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: N6 (Ney - Known music- Kurd Sol); Known music with Ney, on Kurd maqam on Sol. (El Rabii)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: O6 (Oud - Known music- Kurd Sol); Known music with Oud, on Kurd maqam on Sol. (El Rabii)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: Q6 (Qanun - Known music- Kurd Sol); Known music with Qanun, on Kurd maqam on Sol. (El Rabii)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: N7 (Ney - Known music- Saba Re); Known music with Ney, on Saba maqam on Re. (Howa Sahih)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: O7 (Oud - Known music- Saba Re); Known music with Oud, on Saba maqam on Re. (Howa Sahih)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: Q7 (Qanun - Known music- Saba Re); Known music with Qanun, on Saba maqam on Re. (Howa Sahih)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: N8 (Ney - Known music- Saba Sol); Known music with Ney, on Saba maqam on Sol. (Howa Sahih)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: O8 (Oud - Known music- Saba Sol); Known music with Oud, on Saba maqam on Sol. (Howa Sahih)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf
Experimental: Q8 (Qanun - Known music- Saba Sol); Known music with Qanun, on Saba maqam on Sol. (Howa Sahih)	Other: Music listening / EEG recording; Participants listen to 24 different audio clips of 1 min long each, and select emotion in between. EEG is recorded while participants are listening. Participants select the emotion that best describes their feeling from Table 1 of the PANAS-X. https://www2.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/clark/panas-x.pdf

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Quantification of brain waves	Relative power of each of the brainwaves (alpha, beta, gamma, theta, delta).	During the intervention (an average of 30 minutes)
Quantification of selected emotions	Count of every emotion (selected by participant from the provided Table).	immediately before each intervention
Quantification of selected emotions	Count of every emotion (selected by participant from the provided Table)	immediately after each intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: GHIZLANE BENDRISS, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 11, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 20, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): September 20, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 23, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 1, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): October 5, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 4, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 2, 2022
• Last Verified: October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Emotions; Ethnicity; Music; Culture; Music Preference
• Other Study ID Numbers: 19-00013

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participants data that underlie the results reported will be available after deidentification beginning 3 months after publication and ending 3 years after publication. The study protocol and statistical analysis plan will also be available beginning 3 months after publication and ending 3 years after publication. Anyone who wishes to access the individual data, to achieve aims in the approved proposal, will be eligible to gain access to data by submitting a proposal to ghb2002@qatar-med.cornell.edu and data will be available at this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OVjWK7RNTs18c4OIDQErzGjbhmUC98qi?usp=sharing
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: 3 month after publication and ending 3 years after publication.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Send proposal to ghb2002@qatar-med.cornell.edu
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No