Running head: EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

The Effect of Music on Biopsychological Response Elicited by a Horror Video Game

Amanda Cordero and Angela Lorenzana
West Career and Technical Academy

Author Note
Amanda M. Cordero, Angela S. Lorenzana, Biomedical Sciences Program, West Career
and Technical Academy.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Amanda M. Cordero,
BIomeidcal Sciences Program, West Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, NV 89135.
Contact: amandac780@westcta.ccsd.net

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

The Effect of Music on Biopsychological Response Elicited by a Horror Video Game

Purpose Statement
This research project is designed to test the impact of music, specifically classical music,
on the biopsychological responses created by playing a horror video game. Being a wide genre
among a vast number of video game types, the horror genre is often sub-sectionalized into
categories of varying gameplay. The goal of this experiment is to measure a populations level of
fear by subsequently measuring the heart rates of participants, simultaneously comparing said
levels to the differing environments presented in the gaming atmosphere. From this, the objective
is to determine what sorts of gaming settings elicit a higher sense of fear in the participants. The
results obtained may lead to better designed video game structures based on emotional
engineering.
In the event that conclusive results show a direct correlation between fear and added
ambiance, further research can be conducted to see the difference between male and female
responses. Other aspects of video game design, such as game mechanics, graphics, and storyline,
can furthermore be tested for emotional response. The project will serve to expand the
knowledge of how certain aspects of video games (graphics, music, etc.) lead to significant
changes in biopsychological chemistry. Continuing research can lead to higher industry
standards in video gaming and further insight into emotional engineering.

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

Literature Review
The effect of classical music on the biopsychological response of a person playing a
horror video game has been the main topic of interest when studying the effects of video games
on the responses of a person (Carnagey & Anderson, 2005). Many studies of emotional
engineering were conducted. This experiment will shed some more light on the effect of video
games on biopsychological responses of a person playing a horror game.
Other experimental studies have been conducted to show the effects of rewarding and
punishing violent actions in video games on later aggression-related variables (Carnagey &
Anderson, 2005). The study showed that rewarding violent actions in the game increased not
only aggressive thinking but also aggressive emotions and behavior. However, by punishing
these violent actions, aggressive emotions did not diminish. Aggressive thinking and behaviors
remained the same. This study shows that certain aspects, in this case rewards and punishments,
elicit a biopsychological response in the players - much like classical music in a horror video
game.
The emotional appeal of violent video games, especially in young males, is a theoretical
explanation for the popularity of violent video games (Jansz, 2005). The gorey images along
with the music and sound effects could all be factors for the emotions and violent thoughts of the
teenage males. The unfolding of emotions can be just for the pleasure of it; which could explain
the effect of classical music in a horror video game.
Because of the visual appeal of video games of all genres, they have become increasingly
popular in a relative short amount of time (Shinkle, 2008). Video games have the ability to
stimulate the sense immensely. They can augment the senses and modify the relationships

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

between them (Shinkle, 2009). Through the relationship between the senses and the video game
that stimulates them, biopsychological responses can be observed.
The pressures presented by the horror game, in this case classical music, will arouse
certain biopsychological responses like heart rate due to fear. Certain indicators, like pressing the
buttons of the game faster due to the difficulty of the game, indicate a change in
biopsychological responses (Sykes & Brown, 2003). In addition, certain emotional patterns
become present due to the graphics, music, etc of the video game (Ravaja & Salminen, 2004).
In conclusion, biopsychological responses will manifest in the form of increased heart
rate and other responses such as reaction times to stimuli, etc., due to the emotion caused by the
horror video game (in this case, the classical music).

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

Methodology
Participants
The subjects of this study are 30 students from West Career and Technical Academy,
divided in half for experimental and control groups. The subjects will be within the 16 - 18 age
range.
Materials and Procedures
First, we will prepare the gaming room for the participants - well set up the camera, turn
off lights, hook up computer with game readily available to be played, and a stereo playing the
chosen music. On designated testing days, specified participants will be brought in to begin the
study; if more than one participant is scheduled for that particular day, well bring in only one at
a time and have other participants wait outside. Before starting, we must make sure the
participant has signed the Release Form (see Appendix). After prepping the participant with the
heart rate monitor, he or she will begin the simulation once the testers leave the room.
Participants will play one round of Five Nights at Freddys with or without the classical music.
After the participant has played one round of the video game, testers will enter the room once
again and save the heart rate data. This procedure will be repeated with remaining participants,
gathering the quantitative data as needed.
Study Goal Questions
What are you going to do to complete the project?
To complete the project, we will follow the steps outlined.
What steps or actions will you take in order for your project to reach your goals?

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

We will have checkpoints to make sure we are on track with completing the project. We
will make sure that all assignments are turned in on time. Once we collect the data, we will save
the data in a secure place. We will work on the project progressively.
Materials
The study will utilize various technology available at West Career and Technical
Academy to perform the test. Results will be gathered from said instruments and compiled into a
concluding slide presentation with added video documentation. The stated materials are listed in
Table 1, with quantities and sources of acquisition.
Schedule
Deadlines for the study are listed on Table 2. The table dictates the dates for which either
Angela or Amanda is responsible for completing certain tasks of the project.

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

Table 1
Materials
Type of Material

Quantity

Source

Computer with internet

Personal computer

Heart Monitor

School equipment

Camera

Personal equipment

Release and Safety Forms

30

Make on own time

access

Note: This table identifies what materials are needed for the experiment and the quantity of each
material.

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

Table 2
Schedule
Task

Person

Date

Make release forms

Angela

10/30

Obtain permission to use heart monitor equipment/acquire a room

Amanda

10/30

Determine control and experimental participants

Angela/Amanda

11/15

Complete testing for experimental group

Angela/Amanda

12/1

Complete testing for control group

Angela/Amanda

12/15

Complete reaction video

Angela

2/1

Complete research paper

Angela/Amanda

3/1

Complete presentation

Angela/Amanda

3/1

Note: This table shows the task that each group member has to complete in the allotted amount
of time.

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

References
Carnagey, N. L., & Anderson, C. A. (2005). The effects of reward and punishment in violent
video games on aggressive affect, cognition, and behavior. Psychological science,
16(11),
882-889.
Freeman, D. (2004). Creating emotion in games: The craft and art of emotioneering.
Computers in Entertainment (CIE), 2(3), 15-15.
Jansz, J. (2005). The emotional appeal of violent video games for adolescent males.
Communication Theory, 15(3), 219-241.
Ravaja, N., Salminen, M., Holopainen, J., Saari, T., Laarni, J., & Jrvinen, A. (2004, October).
Emotional response patterns and sense of presence during video games: potential
criterion variables for game design. In Proceedings of the third Nordic conference on
Human-computer interaction (pp. 339-347). ACM.
Shinkle, E. (2008). Video games, emotion and the six senses. Media, culture, and society, 30(6),
907.
Sykes, J., & Brown, S. (2003, April). Affective gaming: measuring emotion through the
gamepad. In CHI'03 extended abstracts on Human factors in computing systems (pp.
732-733). ACM.

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

10

Appendix
Release Form
All participants must sign the consent form before participating in the experiment. All
consent forms must be turned in to the experimenters before the scheduled date of the
participants session.
To whom it may concern:
By agreeing to participate in this study, you agree that we are not responsible for any psychiatric
harm and that you are aware of the content and nature of the given tested game. Please read the
following precautions regarding the nature of the study:
-

Students will witness potentially frightening images

Students will experience the latter point in a dark room

Students with heart or mental diseases should not participate in the study

If you agree to the prior terms, please sign and date below:

Name: _______________________________

Date:_____________________