The effects of song activities on the changes of brain concentration ratio and the brain
activation were investigated using neurophysiological electroencephalography (EEG)
index. A total of 78 subjects (37 male, 41 female, mean age 27.00±8.35 years) were
randomly assigned to two groups by the type of stimulus. In order to investigate the
changes between singing and song listening, changes between singing and oral reading,
EEGs of all subjects were recorded during resting, and were also recorded immediately
after performing three different active tasks, including singing, song listening, and oral
reading tasks. The performing orders were randomly chosen for active tasks. EEGs in
four conditions, including during resting, after singing, after song listening, and after oral
reading, were measured using EEG measurement system (PolyG-I) with electrodes placed
in eight channels of Pre-frontal Lobe (Fp1, Fp2), Frontal Lobe (F3, F4), Temporal
Lobe (T3, T4), and Parietal Lobe (P3, P4). The changes of brain concentration ratio
(Ratio of SMR-Mid Beta to Theta, RSMT) and total changes of brain activation (Absolute
Total Power, ATP) were statistically analyzed at the 5% significance level with paired
t-test from the collected EEG signals. The results indicated that the level of both
RSMT and ATP in singing were increased more than those in other conditions including
song listening and oral reading tasks in both groups. These findings suggested that
familiar singing activity resulted in positive responses on improving the level of both
RSMT and ATP.