I am interested in using music to influence or reflect how people are feeling in my final project. This article suggests that there might be a relationship between heart rate and preference for music tempo – but there are significant limitations in the generalisability of it’s findings.
I think the most significant limitation is considering the other factors why music tempo preference may be present – for example what music you were exposed to growing up. Are these findings consistent across cultures and age ranges and if so, how does it explain the existence of fast tempo music genres? Did dance music become dance because people who dance have higher heart rates?
Interesting ideas that I would like to take forward in my research for the next term.
Reference
Iwangaga, M. (1995) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEART RATE AND
PREFERENCE FOR TEMPO OF MUSIC Perceptual and Motor Skills, 81, 435-440
