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Music's powers over pain explored With acknowledgement to a BBC News Report Reprinted in the interests of music lovers and public health Listening to music might act as a painkiller, a study has found. Psychologists at Glasgow Caledonian University found that a favourite tune could reduce anxiety levels and increase tolerance of discomfort. Tests carried out on people in pain proved music had the ability to increase feelings of control and help fight the pain barrier. Music used in the study ranged from punk, rock, classical and folk to Firestarter by The Prodigy. Dr Raymond MacDonald, Reader in Psychology, said: "We studied patients recovering from minor surgery in hospitals and we found that listening to your favourite music reduced anxiety levels. "Music appeared to be the most effective strategy in combining distraction and feeling of control." Dr Laura Mitchell Researcher "We then carried out a series of laboratory studies and asked people to keep their hand in very cold water for as long as they could. "We played music in the background and found that you keep your hand in longer when you listen to it. It reduces pain and increases your feelings of control." During the cold water experiment, carried out by lecturer Dr Laura Mitchell, participants were given a choice of listening to music, doing mental arithmetic or watching Billy Connolly. In each case, the person listening to music was able to tolerate the cold water the longest, sometimes up to five times as long. Researchers believe that this is because music, as well as providing a distraction, can engage you emotionally unlike other stimulants. Music may even make it easier to go for the burn Dr Mitchell said: "The study showed that music appeared to be the most effective strategy in combining distraction and feeling of control." "The music brought by the participants was varied and included punk, dance, rock, classical and folk. The most surprising choice was The Prodigy's Firestarter, not music you would immediately think of as relaxing, but the person who chose it put up with the pain five times as long while listening to it." The findings will be presented at the British Psychological Society conference in Manchester. Dr MacDonald said the work may point the way for further research into the use of music in settings like hospitals. "On a lighter note, perhaps this explains why listening to some music eases our passage through the pain barrier on the gymnasium bike. It may help you go a little bit further," he added. KEYBOARDCHAT COMMENT With our experience we have found that certain forms of music sooth babies and help them to sleep. With hyperactive children soothing music can help the to keep them calm. A landlord of a pub that installed a Hammond organ never had problems with customers. The same pub also had a piano, a pianola actually, and between the two instruments the evenings revolved around music. The live music was never played loud or aggressive which was thought to be an important consideration in creating the right mood for the customers. Background music in supermarkets can also influence sales - depending on the type of music played. It is a long known fact that music has an effect on emotions and this is highlighted by the background music in many films. We think that much of the aggression in the youth of today is not only due to the violence shown on television but also by the loud aggressive music that is around. The art in making music is to make listeners happy - after all, it is not only physical pain that matters but the effects on the mind. Music can distract from not only pain but the problems of life. Yes, the power of music should be given more thought and consideration. Back to Main Page Back to Contents Menu