Different Theories On How It Works
Most people experience a strong reaction to music: either being energized by it or perhaps soothed and relaxed. Music therapy uses this connection between music and mood. Scientific studies show that music can also affect physical functions including blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. Music has been shown to lower amounts of the hormone cortisol which becomes elevated under stress and to increase the release of endorphins, chemicals released by the brain that decrease pain and increase feelings of joy and well-being.

All cranial nerves lead to the ear, which means sound has a direct effect on the brain. Soothing tones have been shown to induce relaxation and affect breathing and other body functions. Neuroscientists suspect that music strengthens and builds connections among nerve cells in the cerebral cortex.

And when it comes to the relaxation implications of Music Therapy, Herbert Benson, M.D., mind-body specialist and author, has studied the effects of repetition of a single tone, such as the mantra used in meditation. He has found evidence of measurable changes in the use of energy, respiration, metabolism and heart rate, and an increase in alpha waves which are a part of any relaxed state.

Conditions It Works Best For
The use of music therapy for a wide variety of conditions by music therapists, nurses, psychologists, and other health professionals has been well studied. Music has proven effective in reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation in a variety of circumstances, from premature infants to coronary care patients to those undergoing stressful medical procedures. The use of music in the management of pain has also been well studied and overall has been shown to be effective in reducing post-operative pain, pain associated with chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, and pain during medical procedures and labor. Music has also been helpful in improving performance outcomes in diverse areas such as exercise, cognitive functioning in patients with dementia, and in children and adults with aggressive or agitated behavior.

Specific physiologic findings include reduction of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate; reduction in length of time nausea was experienced and length of severity of vomiting in chemotherapy; and reduction in cortisol levels, which are chemical markers for the stress response.

Content last modified on Feb 8, 2011