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The analgesic effects of melodies have long been established. However, there is a lack of research on which specific type of music is most effective in reducing pain. Scientists from McGill University in Montreal aimed to understand how listeners’ attitudes towards music alter its analgesic impact. Their findings were published in the Frontiers in Pain Research.
About the Study
The study involved 63 participants: 14 men and 49 women with an average age of 23 years. The inner part of their forearms was subjected to moderately painful thermal stimuli, akin to touching a cup of hot tea. During this, musical excerpts lasting approximately seven minutes were played.
All participants were surveyed about their musical preferences. They were categorized into themes based on their emotional response: energizing/activating, happy/cheerful, calming/relaxing, and moving/bittersweet. Analyzing their favorite compositions, researchers selected encrypted control tracks that closely mimicked the favorites, except for the lyrical content.
Results: Music Truly Can Alleviate Pain
In comparison to control tracks or silence, listening to favorite music significantly reduced the intensity of pain and discomfort in the participants. Unfamiliar calming tracks did not have the same effect. The difference was not only in preferences.
We found that reports of moving or bittersweet emotional experiences seem to result in lower ratings of pain unpleasantness, which was driven by more intense enjoyment of the music and more musical chills.
Darius Valevicius, a doctoral student at the Université de Montréa, study author
Although the term “chills” is not medical terminology, scientists believe they indicate experiences that block pain signals. Participants described their emotions as conflicting, pleasant and bitter at the same time. The themes of poignant songs were predominantly romance and love.
Subthemes included compositions that resonated with listeners, particularly associations with their own lives. Participants immersed themselves in memories and described mixed feelings that were challenging to convey.
Researchers’ Next Steps
Scientists note limitations in the analysis, particularly regarding how long participants listen to musical samples. For instance, prolonged exposure to calming music might have a stronger effect than shorter tracks listened to by participants in this study. Researchers will also focus on whether listening to favorite music is effective against other types of pain: from mechanical injuries or chronic pain.
The impact of the environment on our physical, emotional, and mental well-being is vast and has been studied by scientists for years. A recent study revealed how household pets positively influence their owners.
