Sweet spot in music-Is predictability preferred among persons with psychotic-like experiences or autistic traits?

Researchers tested whether autistic people prefer more predictable music, thinking this might relate to how autism affects uncertainty processing. They had people listen to different types of music and rate what they liked. While people did have different preferences for simple versus complex music, having autistic traits didn't predict preferring more predictable music as expected.

This pre-registered study investigated whether individuals with psychotic-like experiences or autistic traits prefer more predictable music, based on theories suggesting these conditions involve overestimation of uncertainty. Participants from the general population listened to 29 music excerpts of varying complexity and rated their preferences. Researchers analyzed individual 'sweet spots' for musical predictability using the inverted U-shaped relationship between complexity and preference (Wundt curve). Contrary to predictions, the study found no association between autistic or psychotic traits and preferences for predictable music.

While individual differences in musical preference sweet spots were observed, these variations were not explained by the measured traits.

Findings suggest that musical preferences in autism may be more complex than predicted by uncertainty processing theories. This challenges simple assumptions about sensory preferences and highlights the need for more nuanced understanding of individual differences in autism.

Sample size not reported, study used general population rather than clinical samples, relied on self-reported trait measures rather than formal diagnoses, and used pre-composed music excerpts which may not capture individual musical complexity perception differences.

People prefer music with an intermediate level of predictability; not so predictable as to be boring, yet not so unpredictable that it ceases to be music. This sweet spot for predictability varies due to differences in the perception of predictability. The symptoms of both psychosis and Autism Spectrum Disorder have been attributed to overestimation of uncertainty, which predicts a preference for predictable stimuli and environments. In a pre-registered study, we tested this prediction by investigating whether psychotic and autistic traits were associated with a higher preference for predictability in music.

Participants from the general population were presented with twenty-nine pre-composed music excerpts, scored on their complexity by musical experts. A participant's preferred level of predictability corresponded to the peak of the inverted U-shaped curve between music complexity and liking (i.e., a Wundt curve). We found that the sweet spot for predictability did indeed vary between individuals. Contrary to predictions, we did not find support for these variations being associated with autistic and psychotic traits.

The findings are discussed in the context of the Wundt curve and the use of naturalistic stimuli. We also provide recommendations for further exploration.