I just asked Generative AI for more information on Musical Absorption. This is what it came up with.
Musical absorption refers to a state of heightened attention and altered consciousness where individuals become deeply immersed in music, experiencing a sense of being moved and transformed. This state can involve both intense focus and a sense of detachment from external reality.
Here’s a more detailed look:
Key Characteristics of Musical Absorption:
Intense Focus:
Listeners become intensely focused on the music, often to the exclusion of other stimuli.
Sense of Alteration:
There’s a subjective experience of being affected or changed by the music, potentially leading to emotional responses like awe, connectedness, or feeling moved.
Loss of Self-Consciousness:
Some individuals report a temporary loss of self-consciousness or a sense of being "lost in the music," according to research on the topic.
Time Distortion:
The perception of time can be altered, with minutes feeling like seconds or vice versa.
Positive Transformation:
Many individuals report experiencing a sense of positive transformation or a feeling of being moved by the music.
How it relates to altered states of consciousness:
Not a single state:
Musical absorption can encompass a range of experiences, from focused listening to more intense states where self-awareness is diminished.
Connection to neural entrainment:
Some studies suggest that the rhythmic nature of music can influence brainwave activity, potentially leading to altered states.
Distinct from mind-wandering:
Musical absorption is distinct from mind-wandering, where attention drifts away from the task at hand.
Potential for therapeutic applications:
Understanding the effects of musical absorption could lead to new therapeutic approaches for managing stress, anxiety, and other conditions.
In essence, musical absorption is a fascinating phenomenon where music can profoundly alter an individual’s state of consciousness, creating a unique blend of heightened attention, emotional response, and a sense of being transported to another realm.
I am thinking that musical absorption is better description of what we audiophiles do than critical listening.