Gaby
A new study from the University of Montreal (Canada) found that listening to your favorite music can reduce physical pain. The emotions evoked by so-called ‘bittersweet’ melodies were more effective at combating pain than unfamiliar relaxing tracks.
That suggests favorite music can act as an effective nonpharmaceutical analgesic.
How the Study Was Conducted
Researchers have long known that music decreases sensitivity to painful stimuli. However, Canadian scientists wanted to determine which specific type of music acted 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. During the experiment, participants listened to 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.
Lead author Darius Valavicius says the hypoalgesia — reduced sensitivity to pain — wasn’t simply distraction from sound; it was specifically a response to familiar, beloved melodies, according to New Atlas.
The researchers also interviewed participants about their favorite songs and analyzed 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
Music that evokes touching, bittersweet emotions was the most effective at easing pain. Valavicius says greater enjoyment of the music and a ‘strong musical chill’ some listeners experienced seem to drive the effect. Participants’ favorite music had a significantly greater effect on reducing acute thermal pain than unfamiliar compositions.
Their report didn’t define ‘musical chills.’ They cited previous neuroscience research suggesting dopamine pathways — the brain’s reward system — may play a crucial role in both musical pleasure and the chills it can cause. In some people, chills appear as tingling, shivers, or goosebumps.
The team did not track 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 studies 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,’ Valavicius said. The study appeared in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research.
