Dr. Laxmidhar Behera
Project Principal Investigator
Prof. Braj Bhushan
Project Co-Principal Investigator
3
Research Articles
Project Overview
Impact of Indian Classical Raga on human cognitive function A neuropsychological study using EEG
Scheme Cycle
RFP-01
Project Grants
Rs. 10,00,000/-
Duration
2022 - 2024
Thematic Areas
आन्वीक्षिकी विभाग/Vedic Philosophical and Cognitive Sciences
Institution
IIT Mandi
Outcomes
Milestones from projects
Dṛṣṭi:
- Deeper Truth: Indian classical music, rooted in Natya Sastra, enhances transcendental perception through Rasa (aesthetic emotion), helping perceive subtle aspects of consciousness.
- Ragas and Meditation: Meditative ragas like Raga Darbari invoke introspection and peace, encouraging alignment with Shanta Rasa and Karuna Rasa for deeper clarity.
- Experiential Transformation: The use of sound and melody in ragas creates a meditative state, broadening perception akin to mystical darshan (divine seeing).
Jñāna:
- Metaphysical and Empirical Synthesis: Indian classical music integrates spiritual concepts of Bhava (emotion) and Dhvani (resonance) with modern brain EEG findings on cognition.
- Harmony in Consciousness: Music's ability to regulate brain waves, like enhancing alpha rhythms, reaffirms ancient wisdom on balancing body and mind for higher spiritual cognition.
- Path to Liberation: Aligning musical experience with Jñāna supports self-realization and Moksha by channeling higher states of awareness through sound vibrations.
Laukika-prayojana:
- Therapeutic Applications: Raga Chikitsa, an ancient therapeutic practice, helps balance emotions, such as using Mishra Jogiya to evoke Karuna Rasa and manage grief.
- Impact on Trigunas: Specific ragas influence sattva, rajas, and tamas to stabilize mental states and promote resilience.
- Social Harmony: By addressing personal well-being through music, the practice aligns with the dharmic goal of promoting harmony in the collective societal fabric.
Research Capabilities
Specialized focus areas guiding the Project
Objectives
- We would study the changes in the characteristics of the EEG brain networks during the resting state of the brain upon listening to music. Primarily we looked into the alteration in the functional connectivity and EEG power of the brain network. The EEG study would be done in consideration of the relevant EEG bio-markers for the Intelligence, attention, emotion regulation.
- Music induced emotion is mediated by empathy and contagion where mirror neurons plays a vital role. We would be studying the EEG neural correlates of the brain before, while and after listening to music with respect to the EEG bio-markers of limbic system, mirror neurons, sensorimotor neurons and coping strategies.
- We would be studying the EEG power variations and changes in the functional connectivity of the brain while the subjects would be listening to the musical stimulus during sleep. This would be contrasted to the baseline normal reading of the subjects PSG recording. We would also be doing longitudinal study for the subjects and would study the changes in their PSG after 2 months of the Music based therapy.
- We would characterize the brain state of individuals in terms of its working memory, attention and administer the right kind of music using novel neuro-feedback based training modules to foster brain health of the individuals.
- Tasks which sustain for long periods of time result in decline of a person’s attention, memory etc., We would predict their decline using ML based classifiers on EEG signals and then choose and modulate the right music to be administered using ML based recommendation systems.
Research Articles
1. Gupta A, Bhushan B, Behera L (2023) Neural response to sad autobiographical recall and sad music listening post recall reveals distinct brain activation in alpha and gamma bands. PLoS ONE 18(1): e0279814. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279814
2. Gupta, A., Bhushan, B., & Behera, L. (2018). Short-term enhancement of cognitive functions and music: A three-channel model. Scientific reports, 8(1), 1-12.
3. Gupta A, CK Srivastava, Bhushan B, Behera L (2025). A Comparative Study of EEG Microstate Dynamics during Happy and Sad Music Videos (Accepted in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience)