News

A Melbourne University researcher is doing their PhD on craving drops

Could a sick drop help people get over drug addiction?

A researcher at Melbourne University is doing their PhD on the science of the bass drop.

Music neuroscience student Kiralee Musgrove is hoping to help people suffering from addiction, including to drugs and food, by studying peoples' cravings for bass.

Her theory is that the tension that builds when waiting for a drop, on the dancefloor or between your headphones, is processed by the brain in the same way as other cravings and pleasure, such as with drugs or food.

Triple J's Hack program reports Musgrove hopes studying her subjects' moods before and after hearing a drop, and when deprived of one, will show listening to dance music bangers could help people with their cravings.

"We might not be able to get rid of the acute craving states in these people but we might be able to alleviate the craving to the point that then they can go and engage in therapy," she told the program.

Hack points out that there have been studies on the relationship between classical music and pleasure in the past, but this is the first on pleasure, cravings and electronic music.

Shout outs to Kiralee.

Live in the Melbourne area and want to do your bit for science while listening to some tunes? The study is ongoing. If you're interested in participating, head here.

Scott Carbines is Mixmag's Australian Digital Content Editor, follow him on Twitter

[Via: Hack]