Neural activity and sound impression induced by virtual bass for individuals who prefer bass-heavy audio

This study aimed to examine the impact of virtual bass technology on sound perception and its potential effects on the electroencephalogram (EEG) of individuals who prefer bass-heavy audio. A group of eleven participants was exposed to nine jazz music excerpts, with added harmonics generated from low-frequency components to enhance the bass sound virtually. The participants then evaluated the sound impression of these excerpts. The findings revealed that the inclusion of bass harmonics in the sound sources led to a more pronounced "powerful" impression compared to the absence of such enhancements. Furthermore, the study observed that the lower alpha1 band power in the frontal and right centro-parietal regions increased when moderate harmonics were added, in contrast to the conditions without added harmonics or with excess harmonics. These results suggest that virtual bass sound not only influences perceptual aspects but also induces physiological modulation.