Gaby
A new study from the University of Montreal (Canada) has revealed that listening to your favorite music can reduce the sensation of physical pain. The emotions evoked by so-called “bittersweet” melodies are more effective at combating pain than unfamiliar, relaxing music.
Thus, researchers note, our favorite music serves as an effective non-pharmaceutical analgesic.
How the Study Was Conducted
It has long been known that music decreases sensitivity to painful stimuli. However, Canadian scientists wanted to determine which specific type of music acts as the most effective pain reliever.
To do this, the team applied moderate thermal pain stimuli to the inner forearm of 63 study participants. They experienced mild pain similar to the sensation of touching a hot cup to the skin. The experiment was accompanied by seven-minute music excerpts.
It turned out that listening to the participants’ favorite music significantly reduced their pain intensity. In contrast, unfamiliar relaxation tracks and silence did not have the same effect on pain.
As noted by the lead author of the study, Darius Valavicius, the hypoalgesia (reduced sensitivity to pain) was not simply a result of distraction from auditory stimulation. It was specifically a response to recognizable and beloved melodies, as reported by New Atlas.
The researchers also interviewed participants about their favorite songs, analyzing which emotional musical themes could modulate the hypoalgesic effect. They categorized these themes into four groups: energizing/activating, happy/cheerful, calming/relaxing, and touching/bittersweet.
What the Scientists Discovered
It turned out that music that evokes touching/bittersweet emotional experiences is the most effective at alleviating pain. This is attributed to a greater enjoyment of the music and a “strong musical chill,” noted Darius Valavicius. He added that the participants’ favorite music had a significantly greater effect on reducing acute thermal pain compared to unfamiliar compositions.
In their report, the scientists did not focus on defining “musical chills.” However, they referenced previous neurological studies suggesting that the dopamine pathway (the happiness hormone) in the brain may play a crucial role in both the pleasure derived from music and the chills it can induce. According to the researchers, in some individuals, chills may manifest as tingling, shivering, or goosebumps.
The team did not consider how long participants listened to the music excerpts. They suggested that longer exposure to favorite music might have a stronger effect than short tracks. Future research will likely pay more attention to this issue. It will also help determine whether favorite music is equally effective in reducing chronic pain.
“We explored aspects of the psychology of music listening that have not been well studied, especially concerning pain relief,” summarized Darius Valavicius. The findings of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research.
