Why marijuana makes music sound incredible
There are studies giving insight to why marijuana makes music sound incredible.
You can listen to an album countless times, and then when smoking some cannabis you hear a whole new dimension to that exact album.
Music and marijuana have had a rich partnership dating back to the sexy groove of jazz in the 20th century, and probably even before that and it will undoubtedly continue for the foreseeable future.
From the musicians who make the music, to the people listening to the music- cannabis is always a constant in the appreciation and magic of music.
But why is it that smoking weed makes the listening experience so exceptional?
Though there is yet to be concrete scientific proof of why, there are hypotheses and studies to give us insight into this stoned and musically exalted state we perceive.
From focus and attention to altered brainwave activity, as well as heightened sensorial capability – the altering nature of smoking marijuana influences how we perceive sound.
Melodic marijuana the muse
One study conducted by Jorg Fachner, professor of music, health, and the brain at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, demonstrated how a 15 second time interval expanded to an average of 16.7 seconds while under the influence of marijuana.
This literally ‘gives room’ to your listening experience, allowing you to focus your attention on the sounds in more detail, thus leading to changes in auditory perception of a more distinct nature.
Fachner also conducted a study using an EEG comparing brain activity when sober vs high with regards to music perception.
The results indicated that cannabis-using music-listeners experienced changes in “parietal, right temporal and left occipital cortices”- brain areas previously associated with “attentional strategy, auditory processing, and spatial processing, respectively.”
The parietal (attention strategy) cortex showed an increase of the alpha frequency. Interestingly, previous studies linked a strong alpha pattern with those gifted in maths.
Other studies reveal that people, who are high, have enhanced auditory intensity.
If you are interested in reading the whole report, check it out at Leafly.
There is much research to be done but thus far it is extremely exciting as to why marijuana makes music sound incredible.
