Sound Research WIKINDX
Sound Research WIKINDX |
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Miani, A. (2016). The impact of sex and menstrual cycle on rhythmic synchronization: An experimental approach. Unpublished Masters Thesis, Århus Universitet, Denmark. Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard (2/1/17, 9:37 AM) Last edited by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard (3/13/17, 7:46 PM) |
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| Resource type: Thesis/Dissertation BibTeX citation key: Miani2016 Email resource to friend View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Oxytocin, Sex, Singing Creators: Fusaroli, Miani, Mitkidis Publisher: Århus Universitet (Denmark) |
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| Abstract |
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"Music is a remarkable universal human-unique trait based on a special genetic and neu- roanatomical infrastructure, shared among vocal learners, that links auditory inputs to motor outputs via a sensorimotor feedback. This neural con guration is necessary for rhythmic synchronization, a crucial feature of music that fosters aliation and positive a ects. As a social glue, music is associated with an increased oxytocin and reduced testos- terone and cortisol, an endocrine pro le linked to parental care. Based on the physiological oxytocinergic loop extended to sociality, music is grounded on cooperation and aliation. Hence, its power. Yet, how did music propagate? Sexual selection is a prominent theory, claiming that music evolved as an honest signal of cognitive, motor, and cooperative skills, thus an index of good genes positively valued by females. To empirically test sexual selection, and a possible musical division of labor, an experiment was run. The hypothesis was based on the evidence that a) the basal ganglia is a pivotal brain structure in rhythm synchronization which contains vasopressin (AVP) receptors; b) AVP is a neuropeptide similar to oxytocin abundant in males and related to music, dance, and courtship phenotypes; c) AVP peaks in women during ovulation, the most fertile period of the menstrual cycle, in which courtship receptivity reaches the maximum point. Fifteen subjects (8 men, 7 women) participated in a study that measured rhythmic skills through a tapping task. It was predicted that rhythmic synchronization is better in men than women, who perform at the best during ovulation. The hypothesis was con rmed: best synchronization and less tapping variability was recorded for men while within women, ovu- lation enhanced synchronization. Results point toward within- and between-sex di erences in the core structure of music, rhythm, and highlight two aspects of the sexual selection theory: a) within-sex di erences suggest that synchronization is a means for alignment during courtship displays; b) between-sex di erences shed light on how cooperation and trust propagated. In courtship displays, synchronization is a partner test to assess compatibility. Coordi- nating in joint activities increases aliation and positive feelings. By music, cooperation and trust spread in the human lineage via a selection against aggression, viz., neoteny. By reiteration, this inevitably led to a reduced sexual dimorphism and increased paternal care in our lineage, which are associated with reduced testosterone and increased oxytocin, the endocrine responses to music. In conclusion, through the extension of the oxytocin loop from physiology to the social realm, music extended trust and cooperation from blood relationships to peer relationships, allowing the emergence of a novel courtship display based on a cooperative competition." |