Syntonetic have created an iPhone App that enables users to utilise their Moodagent music profiling and recommendation technology – and they’ve just announced that uses for its iPhone application may extend far beyond instant playlist creation. More than 1,000,000 listeners have used Moodagent technology to enjoy their favorite music, but now the Moodagent app is beginning to turn the heads of psychologists interested in the effects of music on emotions!
The Moodagent tech itself creates instant playlists by allowing the listener to adjust touchscreen sliders labeled Sensual, Tender, Joy, Aggressive and Tempo – and this what has piqued the attention of some psychologists – they are interested in the application’s ability to quantify emotion. Typically, psychologists measure emotion via surveys, asking people to verbally indicate their mood. Emotion can also be gleaned from tone of voice and facial expression. Moodagent can apparently perform a complicated series of analyses to measure the emotional qualities of a song.
Dr. David Echevarria, professor of psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, believes Moodagent may prove useful as a teaching tool to help stimulate critical thinking about the impact of music on emotions. “As a psychologist, I am fascinated that a mobile application can discern subtle and elusive emotional qualities in music,” he said. “There are some individuals with various disorders who find this an extremely challenging – if not impossible – task, and here we have a app that can do it! Moodagent is essentially a form of artificial social intelligence.”
It has long been known that music can either positively or negatively affect a person’s mood, state of happiness or stress level. Many people often turn to their favorite music to help themselves feel better, happier and more relaxed when they are feeling down or stressed, which can in turn affect mood-enhancing neurochemicals. For example, listening to music that normally makes one happy and promotes feelings of relaxation will trigger the brain to release serotonin*, a naturally occurring anti-depressant neurotransmitter that boosts feelings of happiness and stimulates the mind and body to enjoy a more relaxed state.
Moodagent lets listeners create playlists based on mood, or create playlists to change their mood. Little work is required on the part of the listener. He or she simply sets the sliders.
If this kind of thing floats your boat, then you can either go to the Moodagent website here, or check out the App on the Appstore (link below).
Moodagent (£free) [iTunes link]