Effects of Musical Tempi on Visual Attention Erps

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to examine whether fast and slow musical tempi have different effects on selective attention evaluated through ERPs and task performance. A high demanding visual selective attention task was performed by the subjects: without music (BL) and with Bach's music in slow (ST) and fast tempi (FT). Difference waves were obtained substracting non-target from target. FT caused a reduction in reaction time and N2d and P3d latencies and in P3d amplitude. N2d latency was longer in ST than BL and FT. Music played in FT induced a faster stimuli evaluation and response than ST.

Keywords:

• ERPs
• music
• musical tempo
• reaction time
• selective attention
• task performance