Healing Music with 1/f Fluctuation | What is 1/f Fluctuation? | Mozart's Classical Music Induces Sleep

"1/f fluctuation" is found in various natural sounds and certain types of music.

In recent years, attention has been drawn to its relaxation effects.

This column introduces the healing mechanism of 1/f fluctuation and music containing 1/f fluctuation.

1. "Fluctuation" found in all creation

~From the cosmos to heartbeats~

Today's theme is "fluctuation."

In the vast universe, the movements of planets, light, and electromagnetic waves can largely be calculated.

However, there are also movements that are difficult to predict, such as the appearance of sunspots.

On the other hand, in the human body, considered a microcosm, heartbeats occur at a largely consistent rhythm.

However, this rhythm fluctuates, sometimes speeding up and sometimes slowing down.

In other words, "fluctuation" can be described as a phenomenon where a generally regular rhythm is combined with some irregular rhythms.

Fluctuation phenomena exist throughout all creation.

As shown in the table below, they are surprisingly diverse.

2. Relaxation levels understood through pulse fluctuation

~Parasympathetic nervous system and fluctuation

What is the state of your breathing and pulse?

Their rhythm, depth, and intensity are not constant; they are fluctuating.

In fact, by measuring this pulse fluctuation, it is possible to diagnose how relaxed a person is.

◆Pulse fluctuation and relaxation levels

When humans breathe, the amount of blood returning to the heart changes moment by moment.

Therefore, the human body responds instantaneously to change cardiac output, subtly altering the pulse.

●When relaxed... pulse fluctuation increases

If you are relaxed at home after dinner, the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant, so the degree of fluctuation becomes large. This is a normal reaction.

●When stressed... pulse fluctuation decreases

During busy, stressful periods at work, the sympathetic nervous system is dominant, so fluctuation becomes smaller.

Furthermore, in patients with diabetic neuropathy, autonomic nervous system function is impaired, leading to data showing extremely low fluctuation.

3. What is "1/f fluctuation"?

~Healing between order and chaos~

Recently, "1/f fluctuation" has been attracting attention regarding this "fluctuation."

Here, "f" is an abbreviation for frequency and fluctuation.

Research in music and acoustics has progressed, and while it's difficult to convey the full overview in a short space, let me explain one aspect.

◆Analyzing 1/f fluctuation

The method for analyzing music is the following "1/f Power Spectrum Characteristic Function Diagram."

The horizontal axis of the diagram represents the quality of sound (frequency, pitch), with low, middle, and high tones from left to right.

The vertical axis indicates the amount of analyzed sound.

Now, let's illustrate three easily understandable cases.

① The world of chaos

② The perfectly regular world

③ The world of moderate fluctuation

① The world of chaos

In various fields, there exists a completely irregular and chaotic world.

For example, in mathematics, random number tables.

In visuals, it would be analogous to the screen after a TV program ends late at night.

The image is a sandstorm, and the sound is not a melody but completely irregular noise.

If we were to use music as an example, it might be rock music where the melody, harmony, and rhythm are all disjointed, with completely unpredictable developments.

Analyzing it would be expressed as 1/f⁰ (always = 1.0 when calculated).

② The perfectly regular world

This applies when a perfectly regular rhythm continues.

In two-dimensional space, it's graph paper; in sound, it's the rhythm of time signals or the beats from a metronome.

These have absolutely no fluctuation and have been expressed as 1/f².

Listening to such rhythms or sounds might make you sleepy due to their monotony.

③ The world of moderate fluctuation

The third case is when moderate fluctuation is included.

This corresponds to phenomena in nature and phenomena exhibited by many living organisms,

as well as classical music, exemplified by Mozart.

Musical pieces contain largely regular parts and appropriate irregularity or development, making them pleasant at the right moments.

Computer analysis results in 1/f¹.

In the case of various types of music, it generally falls within the range of approximately "1/f^1.0" to "1/f^1.4."

4. Music containing 1/f fluctuation　

~Classical music by Mozart and others~

In music therapy, individual preferences and familiar songs vary from person to person.

Therefore, no specific song works for everyone.

However, there are generally reasonable points when many people choose.

Conditions to avoid first include music that is too dynamic and intense, symphonies, and songs with lyrics that evoke strong emotions.

On the other hand, for recommended conditions, classical pieces are generally good as songs that naturally resonate with the heart.

[Representative classical music containing 1/f fluctuation]

 ◆Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik

◆Saint-Saëns: The Swan (from 'The Carnival of the Animals')