Modeling Temporal Lobe Epilepsy during Music Large-Scale Form Perception using the Impulse Pattern Formulation (IPF) Brain Mode

TL;DR

This study models how large-scale musical forms influence brain synchronization, revealing potential links between low-frequency rhythms, external input, and states related to temporal lobe epilepsy, using a novel IPF brain model.

Contribution

It introduces the Impulse Pattern Formulation (IPF) brain model to analyze the neural response to musical large-scale forms, capturing temporal dynamics not possible with previous models.

Findings

High gamma-band synchronization correlates with cochlear input.

Negative correlation at low frequencies during low cochlear input.

Synchronization patterns suggest links to temporal lobe epilepsy states.

Abstract

Musical large-scale form is investigated using an Electronic Dance Music (EDM) piece fed into a Finite-Difference Time Domain (FDTD) physical model of the cochlear which again inputs into an Impulse-Pattern Formulation (IPF) brain model. In previous studies, experimental EEG data showed an enhanced correlation between brain synchronization and the musical piece's amplitude and fractal correlation dimension in good agreement with a FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillator model\cite{Sawicki2022}. Still, this model cannot display temporal developments of large-scale forms. The IPF Brain model also shows a high correlation between cochlear input and brain synchronization at the gamma band range around 50 Hz, but also a strong negative correlation for low frequencies, associated with musical rhythm, during time frames of low cochlear input amplitude. Such high synchronization corresponds to temporal lobe epilepsy, often associated with creativity or spirituality. Therefore, the IPF Brain model suggests those conscious states to happen in times of low external input at low frequencies where isochronous musical rhythms are present.