Relationships Between Spectral Flux, Perceived Rhythmic Strength, and the Propensity to Move

The tendency to move to music seems to be built into human nature. Previous studies have shown a relationship between movement and the degree of spectral flux in music, particularly in the lower sub-bands. In this study, listeners’ perceptions of a range of frequency-restricted musical stimuli were investigated in order to find relationships between perceived musical aspects (rhythm, melody, and fluctuation) and the spectral flux in three different frequency bands. Additionally, the relationship between the perception of features in specific frequency bands and participants’ desire to move was studied. Participants were presented with clips of frequency-restricted musical stimuli and answer…