Impact of instrumental music on heart rate variability in ardent music listeners

Abstract

Purpose: The autonomic nervous system serves as the final gateway by which music exerts a therapeutic effect on health and disease. The aim of the study is to find the effect of different instrumental music on heart rate variability (HRV) as a part of our pilot protocol for identifying suitable auditory stimuli for evaluating the autonomic functions by HRV analysis. Methodology: The effect of music on HRV was assessed by frequency domain parameters of HRV, i.e. total power (TP, variance of N-N intervals over temporal segment), low frequency (LF, power in LF range), high frequency (HF, power in HF range), LF/HF ratio, LF%, and HF% using fast Fourier transform technology. Results: Flute was found to increase LF and HF as well as TP. Tabla and violin were found to increase HF% but had no effect on TP. This makes flute, table, and violin tranquilizing music. Piano was found to lower LF% and increase TP. Sitar and guitar were found to decrease HF%, as well as increase LF/HF ratio. They also increase TP. Conclusion: Although the results were not statistically significant, music is a low-cost and safe adjuvant for intervention and therapy. Therefore, there is growing need for high-quality research on the effects of music on the heart in both healthy individuals and patients.