Ghizlane Bendriss

Is Sadness in Music Universal? A Clinical Trial on Cultural and Instrumental Influences in the Saba Maqam

Ghizlane Bendriss

Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar

ghb2002@qatar-med.cornell.edu

Gawaher El Khattib

Hanan Saba

Padmakumari Sarada

Sarah Roach

Sad music is increasingly studied for its potential benefits in depression. But what defines sad music? In the Middle East, empirical claims on music perception and medical use date back to 10th-century observational studies, where the musical mode Saba and the Ney instrument are still linked to sadness. The clinical trial NCT04573101 is the first to attempt to verify some of these claims of Middle Eastern musicology. This study examines the effects of the well-known Middle Eastern piece “Howa Sahih El Hawa Ghalab” in the Saba maqam, played on the Oud, Ney, and Qanun, on a diverse sample in Qatar. It addresses three questions: 1) Is “Howa Sahih” perceived as sad regardless of cultural background? 2) Is it sad regardless of instrument? 3) Which instrument best evokes the Saba maqam's sadness in individuals with an Arab background? Exploring music cognition from the cultural background standpoint shall provide more understanding and guidance in evaluating the effect of music on the brain and its use in music-based interventions. A binary approach on 42 healthy individuals used self-reported emotions using the Positive and Negative Schedule-X and an electroencephalogram at T7. “Howa Sahih” was not always perceived as sad, and differences were observed when considering the cultural background and when the music was played using different instruments. Only the Arab group displayed significantly increased gamma bands and decreased valence in emotions as compared to their baseline, and only when played using the Ney. The study further confirms previous observations on the association of negative emotions to increased gamma bands and suggests extended studies on the Saba mode for depression and associated diseases.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Ghizlane Bendriss is a neuroscientist dedicated to advancing neurodevelopmental health through a multidisciplinary approach that bridges neurobiology, microbiome research, sensory cognition, and community initiatives. Holding a PhD in Neurophysiology and Neurobiology and a Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience from Aix-Marseille University, France, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, where she teaches Neurosciences and Biology and mentors future scientists. Her research primarily focuses on the gut-brain axis, particularly the impact of gut microbiota on neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. Her innovative project to develop a camel milk-derived probiotic addresses dysbiosis and its behavioral and cognitive effects. In her work on sensory and environmental cognition, she collaborates with Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar to study the effects of light temperature on cognition and leads the first registered clinical trial investigating how Middle Eastern maqam music influences brain activity and emotions, paving the way for culturally adapted music therapy. As an apprentice musician at Qatar Music Academy, she studies the Ney, one of the world’s oldest woodwind instruments, deepening her exploration of traditional music's therapeutic applications. Her work exemplifies a holistic approach to neurodevelopmental health, connecting scientific research, cultural heritage, and applied health solutions.