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Musical hallucinations, musical imagery, and earworms: A new phenomenological survey

Moseley, Peter; Alderson-Day, Ben; Kumar, Sukhbinder; Fernyhough, Charles

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Authors

Peter Moseley

Sukhbinder Kumar



Abstract

Musical hallucinations (MH) account for a significant proportion of auditory hallucinations, but there is a relative lack of research into their phenomenology. In contrast, much research has focused on other forms of internally generated musical experience, such as earworms (involuntary and repetitive inner music), showing that they can vary in perceived control, repetitiveness, and in their effect on mood. We conducted a large online survey (N = 270), including 44 participants with MH, asking participants to rate imagery, earworms, or MH on several variables. MH were reported as occurring less frequently, with less controllability, less lyrical content, and lower familiarity, than other forms of inner music. MH were also less likely to be reported by participants with higher levels of musical expertise. The findings are outlined in relation to other forms of hallucinatory experience and inner music, and their implications for psychological models of hallucinations discussed.

Citation

Moseley, P., Alderson-Day, B., Kumar, S., & Fernyhough, C. (2018). Musical hallucinations, musical imagery, and earworms: A new phenomenological survey. Consciousness and Cognition, 65, 83-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2018.07.009

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 19, 2018
Online Publication Date Aug 1, 2018
Publication Date Oct 1, 2018
Deposit Date Aug 9, 2018
Publicly Available Date Aug 9, 2018
Journal Consciousness and Cognition
Print ISSN 1053-8100
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 65
Pages 83-94
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2018.07.009

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