The naturalistic paradigm: An approach to studying individual variability in neural underpinnings of music perception

Music listening is a dynamic process that entails complex interactions between sensory, cognitive, and emotional processes. The naturalistic paradigm provides a means to investigate these processes in an ecologically valid manner by allowing experimental settings that mimic real‐life musical experie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2023-12, Vol.1530 (1), p.18-22
Main Authors: Alluri, Vinoo, Toiviainen, Petri
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Auditory Perception
Brain
Brain Mapping - methods
Cognitive ability
continuous music listening
dynamic processing
Humans
individual differences
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Music
naturalistic paradigm
Neural plasticity
predictive coding
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Summary:Music listening is a dynamic process that entails complex interactions between sensory, cognitive, and emotional processes. The naturalistic paradigm provides a means to investigate these processes in an ecologically valid manner by allowing experimental settings that mimic real‐life musical experiences. In this paper, we highlight the importance of the naturalistic paradigm in studying dynamic music processing and discuss how it allows for investigating both the segregation and integration of brain processes using model‐based and model‐free methods. We further suggest that studying individual difference‐modulated music processing in this paradigm can provide insights into the mechanisms of brain plasticity, which can have implications for the development of interventions and therapies in a personalized way. Finally, despite the challenges that the naturalistic paradigm poses, we end with a discussion on future prospects of music and neuroscience research, especially with the continued development and refinement of naturalistic paradigms and the adoption of open science practices. We summarize the benefits of studying individual differences in the dynamic neural processing of music using the naturalistic paradigm, which tries to emulate real‐world music listening experiences. We highlight various model‐based and model‐free approaches used in fMRI studies to uncover individual differences in music processing. We discuss the limitations and future prospects of music and neuroscience research through development and refinement of naturalistic paradigms and the adoption of open science practices.
ISSN:0077-8923
1749-6632
DOI:10.1111/nyas.15075