Turning off soothing music and resting in silence may be better for your health, researchers from Italy and the UK claim.
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| Resting in silence may be better for your heart (Photo: iStockphoto) |
Dr. Luciano Bernardi from the University of Pavia and his team asked 24 men, half of whom were composers, to listen to a random sequence of six pieces of music, each lasting two minutes. The music included raga (a type of Indian music), slow and fast classical music, techno, rap, and dodecaphonic music.
The research team then measured heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and other indicators that reflect stimulation or relaxation. They repeated the experiment, incorporating two-minute intervals of silence.
The team found that most types of music increased blood pressure and heart rate, with faster music having a more pronounced effect. This influence seemed independent of the music genre, as both fast classical music and techno elicited similar responses.
Slow music felt more relaxing; however, during the silent intervals, the volunteers experienced even lower heart rates, breathing rates, and blood pressure.
On the other hand, while slow music provided a sense of relaxation, the logical transitions between fast and slow rhythms, along with pauses, created an even more pleasant experience and might be better for health.
T. An
