That music can affect your mood, most people already know. But did you know that music can also affect the pain, anxiety and stress that patients experience? How this works is being investigated by scientists at Erasmus University Rotterdam and Erasmus MC. Physician-researcher Emy van der Valk Bouman explains what music should be prescribed as medicine and in what dosage.
During Lowlands Science 2023, an experiment was conducted among 548 participants. They noted in a questionnaire what their favourite music is. The festivalgoers were then asked to hold their hand in a container of ice water for as long as possible while listening to a certain genre of music. For example, classical, rock, urban, dance and pop. It was then timed how long the participants lasted.
What was concluded? The people who could withstand the pain stimulus of ice water the longest were those who heard music of their favourite genre. There is a linear relationship between music in line with your taste and the experience of pain. 'This shows how important personal preferences are when using music as medicine,' says Emy van der Valk Bouman.
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Want to know more about our research on arts and culture? Then come to the 23rd International Conference on Cultural Economics on 24 – 27 July at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
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