Involuntary musical imagery (INMI) describes the everyday phenomenon of having a tune stuck in the head. Research has established the ubiquity of this form of spontaneous cognition but the predictive role of individual differences is still debated. This study examines the impact of everyday musical behaviors and subclinical obsessive compulsive attributes on INMI experiences. In total 1,536 participants completed three online questionnaires; a novel inventory of musical behavior and INMI, and a standardized obsessive compulsion (OC) inventory. Exploratory factor analysis (N = 512) and structural equation modelling (N = 1,024) were applied. Everyday singing and music listening positively predict length and frequency of reported INMI episodes, respectively. No relationships were found with musical training. High OC was positively related to INMI frequency and disturbance, but only indirectly to INMI episode length and unpleasantness. The identified contributory factors of INMI experiences are discussed in the context of musical memory and spontaneous mental activity.
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April 2014
Research Article|
April 01 2014
Individual Differences Predict Patterns in Spontaneous Involuntary Musical Imagery
Daniel Müllensiefen,
1Goldsmiths, University of London, London, United Kingdom
Daniel Müllensiefen, Department of Psychlogy, Goldsmiths, University of London, London SE14 6NW, United Kindgom. E-mail: [email protected]
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Rhiannon Jones,
Rhiannon Jones
University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
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Sagar Jilka,
Sagar Jilka
Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
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Lauren Stewart,
Lauren Stewart
Goldsmiths, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Victoria J Williamson
Victoria J Williamson
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Luzern, Switzerland and University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Daniel Müllensiefen, Department of Psychlogy, Goldsmiths, University of London, London SE14 6NW, United Kindgom. E-mail: [email protected]
Music Perception (2014) 31 (4): 323–338.
Article history
Received:
January 30 2013
Accepted:
June 25 2013
Citation
Daniel Müllensiefen, Joshua Fry, Rhiannon Jones, Sagar Jilka, Lauren Stewart, Victoria J Williamson; Individual Differences Predict Patterns in Spontaneous Involuntary Musical Imagery. Music Perception 1 April 2014; 31 (4): 323–338. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/mp.2014.31.4.323
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