A comparative study on three different types of music based on same indian raga and their effects on human autonomic nervous systems

Abstract

Complex heart dynamics reflects activities of human non-autonomous system through Heart rate variability (HRV). Poincaré plot is one of the fascinating geometrical tools, which can properly describe the complex heart dynamics. In this chapter, the effect of music on HRV is studied by observing the geometric pattern of Poincaré plot. In this concern, Indian classical music based on Raga ‘Malkaunsh’ is selected in different forms, and HRV signals are collected from different persons. Then, we have identified the differences (if any) in the pattern of music in the three cases, where by pattern we understand dynamics, timber, rhythm and tonality. Next, by using Poincaré plot it is investigated whether the different types of music have different types of effects on HRV. The whole study has been carried out for both of Indian Raga music initiated and non-initiated (IRM and NIRM) persons.