A group of researchers from the Toronto Metropolitan University have conducted a study investigating the effect cannabis can have on a person’s experience of music.
The preprint study involved participants 104 participants and used questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Researchers concluded that people do enjoy music more when under the influence of cannabis, compared with those who were not, stating, “the impact of cannabis on the auditory experience may be overall enhanced” compared to those who listened to music while sober.
The study “highlights the profound yet idiosyncratic effects of cannabis on auditory experiences among experienced recreational cannabis users,” as well as providing “a nuanced understanding of how cannabis alters cognitive processes, perceptual sensations, emotional responses, and embodied experiences related to audition,” researchers said.
While many cannabis consumers will attest to music being enhanced when under the influence of cannabis, the team conducting the study wanted to test the hypothesis using scientific methodology.
Being high, researchers found, altered the cognitive processes happening when experiencing music, amongst other enhancements participants reported being able to absorb the music at an increased level, pay more attention to music and lyrics, and noticed a shift in their interpretation of the lyrics.
“Participants reported significant changes in their cognitive processing related to music when high. These alterations included shifts in attentiveness, absorption, interpretation of lyrics, memory recall, and critical analysis. The findings suggest that cannabis use can result in idiosyncratic experiences, enhancing certain cognitive aspects while requiring more effort in others in the realms of audition and music” the authors wrote.
As noted by the team, the study has limitations and further investigation is needed before strong conclusions can be drawn.
“In conclusion, this study highlights the profound yet idiosyncratic effects of cannabis on auditory experiences among experienced recreational cannabis users. Our mixed-methods approach allowed for a comprehensive exploration for both depth and breadth in understanding how cannabis influences auditory experiences. It provides a nuanced understanding of how cannabis alters cognitive processes, perceptual sensations, emotional responses, and embodied experiences related to audition. These results indicate that the impact of cannabis on the auditory experience may be overall enhanced which warrants further exploration through experimental studies. These findings provide a framework to further explore the complex relationship between cannabis, hearing, and music.”
