Research Description

Using Neural Plasticity to Explain Resistance to New Musical Styles: a Case Study

The aim of this study is to use recent evidence from the scientific community in the area of neuronal plasticity as the basis for a new methodology to reexamine two case studies in music history. In the early twentieth century, a series of premieres were received with adverse criticism and even violent responses to new musical styles, but become popular in subsequent performances. These extreme responses warrant a reexamination behind their motivations and suggest that something is involved in the neural mechanisms of their perception.

Neuronal plasticity is the ability of a neural connection to dynamically adapt functionally and structurally in strength. Animal histology studies have confirmed that this results in a change in the brain, either by increased neurotransmitter transmission or increased sensitivity to neurotransmitters by the postsynaptic receptors. Neuronal plasticity is a slow gradual change in the brain, so I therefore hypothesize that only slow gradual exposure to a new style over a long period of time will change the individual’s musical preference.

I will apply this scientific methodology to reexamine controversies resulting from the premiers of various works by Arnold Schoenberg. Schoenberg abandoned tonality in musical composition and pioneered the atonal musical style. From 1908 on his music, including his seminal "Pierrot Lunaire", was met with scandalous receptions of violence and criticism at premieres. However, future performances were met with praise and are now considered "classic" examples of new music. Similarly, Igor Stravinsky's premier of "The Rite of Spring" was met with a similar pattern of initial violent reception. One would question the social influences behind the initial receptions, but the fact that future performances were met with praise and are now considered masterpieces warrants further investigation. A preliminary meta-analysis of the scientific literature reveals that short-term plasticity occurs in the auditory cortex as a result of musical perception. Additionally, it has been suggested that there is a specific region of the musical perception pathway in the brain that engages in integration of tonality, which suggests that a lack of tonality in the musical piece may have hindered positive perception of music.