The Cardiovascular Effect of Musical Genres
#MMPMID27294814
Trappe HJ
; Voit G
Dtsch Arztebl Int
2016[May]; 113
(20
): 347-52
PMID27294814
show ga
BACKGROUND: The effect of different musical styles on serum cortisol levels,
blood pressure, and heart rate is currently unknown. METHODS: 60 subjects were
randomly assigned to three groups that listened to various compositions by W. A.
Mozart, J. Strauss Jr., or ABBA for 25 minutes. Their serum cortisol
concentrations, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured before and after the
listening session. The same variables were measured in a control group of 60
subjects who did not listen to music but rested in silence. RESULTS: Music by
Mozart and Strauss markedly lowered the subjects' blood pressure (systolic: -4.7
mm Hg, 95% confidence interval [-6.9; -2.5] and -3.7 mm Hg [-6.1; -1.4];
diastolic: -2.1 mm Hg [-3.8; -0.4] and -2.9 mm Hg [-4.9; -0.9], p<0.001), while
music by ABBA did not (systolic: -1.7 mm Hg [-3.9; 0.6]; diastolic: -0.1 mm Hg
[-2.0; 1.8]). Similar findings were made with respect to heart rate. There were
no such changes in the control group. Serum cortisol levels decreased in all
groups (Mozart: -4.56 ?/dL [-5.72; -3.39], Strauss: -4.76 ?g/dL [-5.94; -3.58],
ABBA: -3.00 ?g/dL [-5.28; -2.69], silence: -2.39 ?g/dL [-3.26; -1.52],
p*lt;0.001). The observed effects were not correlated with the style of music
individually preferred by the subjects. CONCLUSION: Music by Mozart and Strauss
lowered the subjects' blood pressure and heart rate, while music by ABBA did not.
Mozart's music had the strongest effect; the piece used was his Symphony No. 40
in g minor (KV 550).
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