Music Revealed as Effective Method to Alleviate Pain, Says Canadian Study
Researchers in Canada have conducted a study to determine which elements of listening to music contribute to pain reduction. The study, reported by Frontiers, found that participants experienced reduced pain intensity and unpleasantness when listening to their favorite music, as opposed to pre-selected calming melodies commonly used in clinical settings. Interestingly, music with bittersweet undertones was found to further alleviate the unpleasantness associated with pain.
The study, led by Darius Valevicius, a doctoral student at the Université de Montréal in collaboration with the Roy Pain Lab at McGill University, aimed to explore music’s potential as a drug-free method for diminishing pain perception, known as hypoalgesia. Hypoalgesia occurs when pain signals are disrupted between their point of origin and the conscious mind’s recognition of them as pain.
Participants in the study were exposed to mildly uncomfortable thermal stimuli on their inner forearms, simulating the sensation of a hot teacup against the skin. Each stimulus was accompanied by music excerpts lasting about seven minutes. Compared to control tracks or periods of silence, individuals reported a significant reduction in both the intensity and discomfort of pain when listening to their favorite music. In contrast, unfamiliar calming melodies did not produce the same outcome, suggesting that distraction or sound alone were not the sole factors contributing to pain relief.
The researchers also explored how different emotional themes embedded in music could affect its ability to alleviate pain. Interviewed participants reported themes falling into categories such as energizing/activating, happy/cheerful, calming/relaxing, and moving/bittersweet. It was found that emotional experiences categorized as moving or bittersweet correlated with lower ratings of pain unpleasantness. This was attributed to the heightened enjoyment of the music and increased occurrences of “musical chills,” which appeared to signify a neurophysiological process effective in blocking pain signals.
The study acknowledges the limitations of its duration of music exposure and calls for further research to explore the effectiveness of favorite music in contexts beyond thermal pain stimuli, as well as its application to chronic pain or mechanical stimulation. Valevicius emphasized the pioneering nature of their exploration into the psychological dimensions of pain relief through music, particularly in the context of emotional themes, indicating a wealth of untapped research potential in this area.
The findings of this study have been published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research and highlight the significant impact of personally favored music on pain reduction. As the research continues to unfold, music may become a valuable tool in alleviating pain and enhancing well-being.
Image: ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images
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