This study explored the possible beneficial effects of singing on well-being during a singing lesson. Eight amateur (2m, 6f, age 28-53 yrs) and eight professional (4m, 4f, age 26-49 yrs) singers who had been attending singing lessons for at least six months were included. Continuous ECG was recorded and computerized spectral analysis was performed. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, prolactin, cortisol, and oxytocin were measured before and 30 min after the lesson. Five visual analogue scales (VAS, sad-joyful, anxious-calm, worried-elated, listless-energetic, and tense-relaxed) were scored before and after the lesson. In addition, a semi-structured interview was performed. Heart rate variability analyses showed significant changes over time in the two groups for total power, and low and high frequency power. Power increased during singing in professionals, whereas there were no changes in amateurs. This indicates an ability to retain more "heart-brain connection." i.e., more cardio-physiological fitness for singing in professional singers, compared to amateur singers. Serum concentration of TNF-alpha increased in professionals after the singing lesson, whereas the concentration in amateurs decreased. Serum concentrations of prolactin and cortisol increased after the lesson in the group of men and vice versa for women. Oxytocin concentrations increased significantly in both groups after the singing lesson. Amateurs reported increasing joy and elatedness (VAS), whereas professionals did not. However, both groups felt more energetic and relaxed after the singing lesson. The interviews showed that the professionals were clearly achievement-oriented, with focus on singing technique, vocal apparatus and body during the lesson. The amateurs used the singing lessons as a means of self-actualization and self-expression as a way to release emotional tensions. In summary, in this study, singing during a singing lesson seemed to promote more well-being and less arousal for amateurs compared to professional singers, who seemed to experience less well-being and more arousal.

The NeuroFlexor instrument is a reliable measure of spasticity and of muscle elasticity and viscosity in individuals with wrist and finger muscle resistance to passive stretch after stroke.

In Norway and Sweden, the governments see a potential for establishing a policy for cultural participation, based on the assumption that cultural activities will improve health and well-being. Aim: The aim was to survey the scientific literature in Norway and Sweden concerning cultural interventions for increased well-being and health. All applications of cultural activities in medical and leisure time field were included. Methods: Medline, were included. Results: Mostly effects of cultural participation in clinical settings were studied, focusing on small groups. Very few studies have been published regarding public health aspects. The few epidemiological studies were for the most part carried out in Sweden. In Norway the prime issue has been music therapy. Conclusions: More epidemiological and longitudinal studies addressing cause -effect relations and intermediary mechanisms are warranted as well as public health intervention studies.

This study examines in detail the psychological variables underlying ideological political orientation, and structure and contents of this orientation, in Sweden and Latvia. Individual political orientation is conceptualized on two dimensions: acceptance vs. rejection of social change and acceptance vs. rejection of inequality. Swedish (N = 320) and Latvian (N = 264) participants completed measures of political orientation, Social Dominance Orientation (SDO), Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA), self vs. other orientation, tolerance for ambiguity, humanism and normativism, core political values, system justification, as well as moral foundations questionnaire and portrait values questionnaire. The results showed that the relation among the measured variables was similar in both samples. Swedish participants showed stronger endorsement of egalitarian attitudes and social values, whereas we found more self-enhancing and socially conservative values and attitudes among the Latvian participants.

The aim was to investigate whether vocalists and instrumentalists (N = 108) would differ in personality traits, such as the Big five dimensions, competence-based self-esteem, and musical selfperceptions. The design involved both global and domain-specific features to more closely map similarities and differences between the groups. Results indicated that vocalists reported significantly higher levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and openness than the control group (p < .01-.05) but not musicians. The musical self-perceptions were explored using a qualitative method by asking the students to, in their own words, describe aspects of two categories of musical self-perceptions. For self-perceptions related to musical development, goal-orientation, personality, and expressivity were of most importance for both vocalists and instrumentalists, although personality ranked first among vocalists and third for instrumentalists. For self-perceptions related to musical expression in a performance, vocalists assigned most value to timbre, emotions, and musical ideas, whereas instrumentalists indicated dynamics, musical ideas, and timbre. In sum, global and objective measurements failed to discriminate well between vocalists and instrumentalists, whereas the qualitative study aimed at tapping domain-specific features was successful in embracing a large variety of musically related items and to differentiate between vocalists and instrumentalists.