This has been an exciting collaboration between artists and scientists, and it has produced results which may have a real-world impact, particularly for people who are experiencing high levels of stress.” The lead author, Dr Cassandra Gould van Praag said: “We are all familiar with the feeling of relaxation and ‘switching-off’ which comes from a walk in the countryside, and now we have evidence from the brain and the body which helps us understand this effect. The study has been published in Scientific Reports. While naturalistic sounds and ‘green’ environments have frequently been linked with promoting relaxation and wellbeing, until now there has been no scientific consensus as to how these effects come about. Researchers at BSMS found that playing ‘natural sounds’ affected the bodily systems that control the flight-or-fright and rest-digest autonomic nervous systems, with associated effects in the resting activity of the brain. New research explains how, for the first time. So keep this as a resource in your back pocket to unwind, on-demand, any time you need it.The gentle burbling of a brook, or the sound of the wind in the trees can physically change our mind and bodily systems, helping us to relax. We all know the value of sleep and relaxation, and toxicity of stress and anxiety. While there’s sill a lot of research to be done in this space, it’s clear that music has the power to help us clear our heads, relax and focus.
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Perhaps offices that play calming music can help to improve their employees’ stress levels and productivity. The town of Lancaster, CA plays the tranquil sounds of birds chirping through loudspeakers along their downtown strip, which is believed to have reduced the local crime rate ( minor misdeeds by 15% last year, and serious crimes by 6%), since its launch. So how can we incorporate the positive and powerful effects of sound therapy into the practical settings of our day-to-day lives? Some believe that introducing music into stress-inducing activities (such as test-taking) can reduce anxiety and improve performance.
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And there is no repeating melody, which allows your brain to completely switch off because you are no longer trying to predict what is coming next.” Cooper explains, “It takes about five minutes for this process, known as entrainment, to occur.
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She explains that the song “contains a sustaining rhythm that starts at 60 beats per minute and gradually slows to around 50.” The listener’s heartbeat will naturally slow down to match the track’s BPM (beats per minute). David Lewis-Hodgson from Mindlab International explained, "Brain imaging studies have shown that music works at a very deep level within the brain, stimulating not only those regions responsible for processing sound but also ones associated with emotions.”īut what is it about the song itself that makes it so effective? According to Lyz Cooper, the founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, there are basic musical principles that correlate with relaxation. “Weightless” induces a 65% reduction in anxiety and a 35% reduction in usual physiological resting rates.ĭr.
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According to Mindlab International, the group behind the research, the power of this song is outstanding compared to any other song they have ever tested.