A Canadian study seems to confirm the impact of music on our brains. Under the supervision of psychologist Mathieu Roy, a team of researchers from McGill University in Montreal have studied the type of music that is most effective in relieving pain.
For several years, researchers have been investigating the effects of music on the body, particularly those that reduce pain (hypoalgesia). Psychology professor Mathieu Roy and his team set out to find out which musical genre could reduce pain in patients.
To carry out this study, the researchers asked for the test subjects’ favorite pieces of music. They were then subjected to a harmless experiment where they felt some pain. The test was repeated in different circumstances: in silence, with relaxing music, with the patient’s favorite track, and then with a combination of relaxing music and the patient’s favorite track.
Music reduces pain
At the end of the experiment, the results showed that patients were able to cope better with pain when music was played. A finding that has been confirmed in the past. But McGill University’s research goes one step further. “We found that preferred music is by far the most effective in reducing pain,” explains Mathieu Roy. The psychology professor points out that patients’ favorite tunes reduce the sensation of pain by 15%, compared with an environment where relaxing music is played.
The power of nostalgic music
Among the 63 volunteers of the experiment, four categories of music were established. Stimulating music, calm music, happy songs and nostalgic songs. According to the work carried out by the research team, nostalgic tracks offer the best results. “If we want to maximize the analgesic effects of music, we can suggest that patients bring along music that is dear to them and that induces this feeling: nostalgic, bittersweet, very moving”, concludes Mathieu Roy.
However, the neurobiologist will now seek to understand which levers this type of music activates in the brain, to better understand its medical use. “The hypothesis we’re trying to test is that music produces activity in reward circuits. We are currently carrying out this experiment in an MRI scanner, to verify these neuronal mechanisms”, adds the Canadian researcher. The research carried out by psychologist Mathieu Roy and his team at McGill University reinforces the certainty of the effectiveness of music therapy.
