Years ago (sheesh, close to 20 years!), I used to experiment with changing the frequency, polarity and flow of the electric current in my body using music as the driver. I wish I had access then to an fMRI so that I could map out the changes that were going on. Ever since then, though, I’ve been trying to work out ways of using music to change perception. These days, I find myself listening extensively to Allegri’s Miserere Mei while I write about conflict situations and sense-making…

You may already be aware of this website, but:

“The Music of the Heart is derived from electrocardiogram (ECG) data, actual digital recordings of the electrical signals of the human heart. These heart songs began as musical notes mapped from the heartbeat data. The composer then added harmonies and rhythm to make pleasant sounding music.”
—
“There was also a hands-on exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science that allowed museum-goers to record their own electrocardiogram and, in real time, listen to the music it produces. This ‘heart music’ created by museum-goers is different from the heart songs above which were ‘interpreted’ by a composer (i.e., chords and rhythm were added by the composer on top of the melody created from the data). Heart music you would hear at the museum exhibit which is based solely on the raw data sounds something like this…”

http://polymer.bu.edu/music/

The composed interpretations are a bit bland for my tastes, but check out the raw data heart music. Sounds like Stockhausen! What’s it mean? I dunno. Is it interesting? There is a distinct possibility!

Just for good measure…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSh2XeLY7YE

Thanks for another thought-provoking post, by the way.