Xi Yuan

Xi Yuan

Oct. 31, 2026

Music cognition, Emotional regulation, Cross-cultural comparison, Bio-cultural interaction, Musical therapy.

The functions of music cognitive processing and emotional regulation have been long discussed under the paradigm of western centralism. This article aims to construct the biocultural interaction theoretical framework that clarifies the cognitive specificity of music and functional pathway of emotional regulation in different cultural backgrounds. Besides, this article examines and compares the fundamental differences between eastern and western groups in auditory attention orientation, strategies of decoding music structure, and construction of aesthetic preferences. Collectivism channels venting towards a social with-peers connection whereas it reinforces introspective self-control strategies for an individual by bringing a focus on themselves. Ritual music and daily music have differing aging patterns and social functions in emotion regulation. Standardized music therapy schemes have limited direct applicability to multicultural contexts. It is important for clinical practice to recognize the role of cultural scripts in influencing neural circuits and to create a culturally adaptable personalized intervention model.

© 2026, the Authors. Published by ISCCAC

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license