DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF SELECTED CLASSICAL-MUSIC ON THE IMAGERY OF HIGH VERSUS LOW IMAGERS - 2 STUDIES

Two studies are described, each of which examines effects of a different selection of classical music on imagery of high versus low imagers as determined by the Creative Imagination Scale (Wilson & Barber, 1978). In the first, 69 undergraduates imaged in music or silence following an induction. In the second, 41 undergraduates followed the same procedure with different music. The latter music increased the frequency of kinesthetic imagery for both high and low imagers. Low imagers were more likely to experience relaxation during music. In both studies, there were neither interaction nor main effects on percentage of time imaging or distracted. In both, high imagers reported more vivid imagery than low imagers during music, while high and low imagers showed no difference in vividness during silence. Both pieces of music increased the activity of imagery for high imagers, but not for low. These results suggest that music has both broad effects on imagery that vary with the musical selection and differential effects that are more consistent between selections.