A team of researchers led by neurobiologist Iluna Li from Henan University of Science and Technology in China has discovered that music can be surprisingly effective in reducing nausea and dizziness caused by travel. But it’s not just any music that does the trick.
During the experiments, 30 participants were subjected to a driving simulator that intentionally induced motion sickness. Using electroencephalograms (EEGs), the researchers monitored the brain activity of volunteers as they transitioned from a stable state to one of motion sickness and back again.
The participants were divided into six groups. Four groups listened to various genres of music for one minute after experiencing nausea from the driving simulation; one group (the control group) did not listen to music at all, opting instead for a minute of meditation; and another group finished their ride just before they were expected to feel nauseous.
The researchers found that participants who listened to cheerful music experienced a 14 percent reduction in motion sickness symptoms compared to the meditation group.
Following closely behind in effectiveness was calming background music, which alleviated symptoms by 13.4 percent compared to the control group.
The EEG data collected during the study indicated that motion sickness negatively correlated with activity in the occipital lobe, which is responsible for processing visual information.
The worse a participant felt, the less complex the activity was in this part of the brain. Conversely, the better a participant recovered, the more varied the activity recorded by the sensors, as reported by Science Alert.
Scientists Love Exploring the Healing Power of Music
It’s hard to gauge the significance of music’s impact, as the experiments were based on a small sample size. However, the new findings align with results from other studies that have shown music can have healing and even transformative effects, altering our feelings and overall well-being for better or worse.
Previous research has also demonstrated that a favorite tune can reduce symptoms of visually induced motion sickness or cybersickness caused by interacting with virtual reality devices. Moreover, music may even help alleviate hangover symptoms.
Some studies have indicated that sad music can improve mood and well-being, but in certain cases, it may have the opposite effect.
The researchers say sad music can amplify discomfort through emotional resonance. In contrast, upbeat or relaxing music helps keep spirits up and eases emotional discomfort.
The results of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
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