The effects of music on the pain thresholds and the balance of autonomic nerves

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25463158
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: Matsumoto Dental University
• Principal Investigator: TOMIDA MIHOKO 松本歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (00366329)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TERADA TOMOYOSHI 岐阜大学, 医学部, 助教 (30345780) ; KAWAKAMI TOSHIYUKI 松本歯科大学, 総合歯科医学研究所, 教授 (80104892)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 疼痛 / 感覚閾値 / 音楽 / 情動 / 自律神経

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pain plays a crucial role on the body, but it causes stress. We examined the reduction of the pain perception by using music. 45 subjects were investigated for pain thresholds on the forearm and 4 oral areas while listening to three musics. The autonomic nervous activity of ten subjects were measured using Bonaly Light while listening to music. Furthermore, the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals in the cingulate cortex were analyzed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), when eight subjects were given electrical stimulation on their ankles while listening to music. The thresholds of pain were significantly higher when the subjects were listening to slow music than those without music. In the fMRI study, BOLD signals were attenuated by listening to music. Parasympathetic nervous activity values increased significantly under listening to music compared with no music. The present findings suggest that listening to music is capable of reducing pain perception.

Free Research Field

神経生理学