Effect of Selected Music Soundtracks on Cardiac Vagal Control and Complexity Assessed by Heart Rate Variability

Abstract

Listening to music is experimentally associated with positive stress reduction effect on human organisms. However, the opinions of therapists about this complementary non-invasive therapy are still different. Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of selected passive music therapy frequencies without vocals on selected cardio-vagal and complexity indices of short-term heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy youth, in terms of calming the human. Main methods: 30 probands (15 male, averaged age: 19.7±1.4 years, BMI: 23.3±3.8 kg/m2) were examined during protocol (Silence baseline, Music 1 (20-1000 Hz), Silence 1, Music 2 (250-2000 Hz), Silence 2, Music 3 (1000-16000 Hz), and Silence 3). Evaluated HRV parameters in time, spectral, and geometrical domains represent indices of cardio-vagal and emotional regulation. Additionally, HRV complexity was calculated by approximate entropy and sample entropy (SampEn) and subjective characteristics of each phase by Likert scale. Results: the distance between subsequent R-waves in the electrocardiogram (RR intervals [ms]) and SampEn were significantly higher during Music 3 compared to Silence 3 (p=0.015, p=0.021, respectively). Geometrical cardio-vagal index was significantly higher during Music 2 than during Silence 2 (p=0.006). In the subjective perception of the healthy youths evaluated statistically through a Likert scale, the phases of music were perceived significantly more pleasant than the silent phases (p<0.001, p=0.008, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings revealed a rise of cardio-vagal modulation and higher complexity assessed by short-term HRV indices suggesting positive relaxing effect music especially of higher frequency on human organism.