Characterization of Steady-State EEG Responses to Familiar and Unfamiliar Music While Playing a Virtual Reality Rhythm Game

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the brain processes familiar and unfamiliar music differently, yet there is a lack of EEG analysis focusing on active rhythm tasks during music listening. Our study aims to address this gap by investigating EEG responses to familiar and unfamiliar music while participants engage in a rhythm game within a virtual reality environment. We utilized a commercially available four-electrode headband to collect EEG data from 10 healthy subjects during experiments. Participants played the rhythm game Beat Saber, using virtual sabers to match the beat of the music. This experiment employed a matched pair design, with each subject serving as their own control in EEG comparisons. EEG data were categorized into delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands, and power within each band was analyzed to discern patterns across trials. Our findings revealed significant differences in how the brain processed familiar versus unfamiliar music across both audio-only and virtual reality settings. These changes occurred predominantly on the right side of the brain, suggesting hemispheric specialization in music processing. Overall, our study contributes new insights into neural dynamics underlying music perception during active engagement, highlighting distinct EEG responses to familiar and unfamiliar music across sensory contexts.