Physiological Responses, Peripheral

[para. 1]: “Peripheral physiological responses are triggered during music perception and performance, particularly for music that conveys intense emotion. The arousal dimension of emotion has been linked to activation of the sympathetic nervous system, typically assessed by changes in respiration, perspiration, heart rate, blood pressure, and skin temperature. The valence dimension of emotion has been linked to changes in facial muscle activity and heart rate. These peripheral changes are triggered following a central response, and in the case of induced emotions, may be mediated by the release of neurochemicals such as oxytocin and cortisol along the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis.”