Clinical Trials Day 2023 – Relax!
Music has a remarkable ability to bring people together and permeate every aspect of our lives, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries [1]. As we celebrate Clinical Trials Day on May 20th, let us explore the connection between music and the world of clinical trials. Many popular songs have been influenced by drugs (such as drug abuse and psychedelic drugs, both of which are being studied in many clinical trials), as well as reflected clinical trial challenges and music’s therapeutic effects. In this spirit, the Niche team have curated a playlist that pays tribute to the incredible work of clinical trials.
Many music aficionados would argue that music itself is a drug, and its effects have been investigated under clinical trial conditions. Although the potential for musical behaviour is a characteristic of all peoples, its actualisation is shaped by the environment and the experiences of individuals, often within groups [2,3]. Listening to music, singing, playing (both informally and formally), creating (exploring, composing, improvising), whether individually or collectively, are common activities for the vast majority of people [4]. Music represents an enjoyable activity in its own right, but its influence goes beyond simple amusement.
Engaging in these activities not only allows individuals to express their feelings. It can also bring about many positive effects. An increasing body of empirical and experimental studies has explored the broader benefits of musical activity. Research in music-related sciences suggests that successful engagement in music can improve many dimensions of human life, including physical, social, educational, cognitive and emotional aspects [5]. Music learning is something that can happen formally (often initiated as part of structured lessons in school), or informally at home with family and friends. The latter of which often occurs non-sequentially and without intentional planning, and participation in music learning is often voluntary rather than mandated [3, 6-8].
The benefits of music are evident across the whole of our lives, including early childhood, adolescence and older adulthood [9-12]. Within these lifespan perspectives, research into music's contribution to health and well-being strongly supports physical and psychological impacts [13-15]. Benefits are also reported in terms of young people's educational outcomes, it has been postulated that successful musical activity can enhance an individual's sense of social inclusion and social cohesion [16-18].
At the other end of the age span, and also related to therapy, an Australian study recently reported on the benefits of a ‘Music, Mind and Movement’ programme for people in their 80’s with mild to moderate dementia. Participants showed improvement in aspects of cognition, particularly verbal fluency and attention [19]. Similarly, a 10-week group music programme for young Scottish adults with learning difficulties suggests that participants not only enjoyed the programme, exhibiting sustained participation, they also displayed benefits evidenced in increased social engagement, interaction and communication [20].
Music appears to be a common accompaniment to exercise, whether in the gym, park or street. A study conducted in South East Asia explored the potential physical benefits of synchronous exercise to music, especially in hot and humid conditions [21]. Their randomized cross-over study reported that ‘time-to-exhaustion’ under the synchronous music condition was 2 to 3 times longer compared with the no-music condition for the same participants. In addition, perceived exertion was significantly lower, with an average reduction of 22% during the synchronous condition.
In summary, these studies demonstrate that engaging in musical activity can have a positive impact on health and well-being in a variety of ways and in a diverse range of contexts across the lifespan. Musical activities, whether focused on listening, creativity or recreation, whether individual or collective, possess the potential to be therapeutic, developmental, enriching, and educational. However, it is important to note that musical experience is affected by an individual preference and so the music itself must be perceived as engaging to derive results that as meaningful by those who participate.
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges of our age experienced is the impact of stress on our collective health. Experienced by almost everyone, we all recognised the need to manage our personal stress levels. We all develop tips, tricks and techniques to calm your nerves when things get difficult at work, school, or in your personal life. From the evidence above it is clear that the use of music by many to aid with relaxation is founded in science (and experience). I am sure that most people (if not all) have their own ‘Relax’ mix at hand. Sound therapies have long been widely used as a way of relaxing and restoring one’s health. We know that indigenous cultures have used music to enhance well-being and improve health conditions.??The question arises as to whether we all share a similar musical code that can unlock relaxation. Systematic prospective randomized studies that investigated different musical genres (music from the era of Viennese Classicism, music from the Romantic period, or contemporary classical music) with a view to their influence on different cardiocirculatory parameters (for example) in larger cohorts are lacking.
This is the question recently posed by neuroscientists from the UK who aimed to identify which tunes have the potential to provide the best results. The study involved participants who attempted to solve difficult puzzles as quickly as possible while connected to sensors. The puzzles were designed to induce certain levels of stress. Participants listened to different songs while researchers measured the subjects’ brain activity as well as physiological states (including heart rate, blood pressure and rate of breathing). Of those tunes tested, the song that emerged as producing the greater state of relaxation (than any other music tested to date) was?“Weightless,” by Marconi Union.?In fact, listening to that one song, resulted in a striking 65% reduction in participants’ overall anxiety and a 35% reduction in their usual physiological resting rates [22]. Truly remarkable findings.
Equally astonishing is the fact that the song was intentionally designed to have such an effect. Reports say that the group that created “Weightless,” Marconi Union, did so in collaboration with sound therapists. Its carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms, and bass lines help slow a listener’s heart rate, reduce blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. When it comes to lowering anxiety, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Stress either exacerbates or increases the risk of health issues like heart disease, obesity, depression, gastrointestinal problems, asthma and more.?
Have you got a ‘Relax’ mix? Would you like some suggestions as to the best tunes to include? Well there are countless lists available out there – not all of the incorporate “Weightless.” The team at Niche Science & Technology Ltd. combined their insights to compile a list of their favourites – and after considering the science and the melody – obviously included Marconi Union’s creation. In recognising that music is an easy way to take some of the pressure off of all the pings, texts, emails, appointments, meetings and deadlines that can raise your stress levels, leaving you feeling drained and anxious, we have compiled our list (below) on Spotify for your benefit . Note there’s also a free 10-hour version of “Weightless” available if you want a longer listening experience. We’d love to know your thoughts on our choices and thoughts on any tunes we may have missed.
HAPPY CLINICAL TRIALS DAY!
?References
1.?????Mehr, A., Singh, M., Knox, D., Ketter, D. M., Pickens-Jones, D., Atwood, S., et al. (2019). Universality and diversity in human song. Science 366:eaax0868. doi: 10.1126/science.aax0868
2.?????North, A. C., and Hargreaves, D. J. (2008). The Social and Applied Psychology of Music. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198567424.001.0001
3.?????Welch, G.F., and McPherson, G. E., (eds.). (2018). “Commentary: Music education and the role of music in people's lives,” in Music and Music Education in People's Lives: An Oxford Handbook of Music Education (New York, NY: Oxford University Press), 3–18. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199730810.013.0002
4.?????Blacking, J. (1976). How Musical Is Man? London: Faber & Faber.
5.?????Biasutti, M., and Concina, E. (2013). “Music education and transfer of learning,” in Music: Social Impacts, Health Benefits and Perspectives, eds P. Simon and T. Szabo (New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc Series: Fine Arts, Music and Literature), 149–166.
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6.?????Green, L. (2002). How Popular Musicians Learn. Aldershot: Ashgate Press.
7.?????Folkestad, G. (2006). Formal and informal learning situations or practices vs formal and informal ways of learning. Br. J. Music Educ. 23:135–145. doi: 10.1017/S0265051706006887
8.?????Saether, M. (2016). Music in informal and formal learning situations in ECEC. Nordic Early Childhood Educ. Res. J. 13:1–13. doi: 10.7577/nbf.1656
9.?????Gerry, D., Unrau, A., and Trainor, L. J. (2012). Active music classes in infancy enhance musical, communicative and social development. Dev. Sci. 15, 398–407. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2012.01142.x
10.??Linnavalli, T., Putkinen, V., Lipsanen, J., Huotilainen, M., and Tervaniemi, M. (2018). Music playschool enhances children's linguistic skills. Sci. Rep. 8:8767. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-27126-5
11.??Williams, K. E., Barrett, M. S., Welch, G. F., Abad, V., and Broughton, M. (2015). Associations between early shared music activities in the home and later child outcomes: findings from the longitudinal study of Australian Children. Early Childhood Res. Q. 31:113–124. doi: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2015.01.004
12.??McFerran, K. S., Hense, C., Koike, A., and Rickwood, D. (2018). Intentional music use to reduce psychological distress in adolescents accessing primary mental health care. Clin. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 23, 567–581. doi: 10.1177/1359104518767231
13.??MacDonald, R., Kreutz, G., and Mitchell, L. (eds.), (2013). Music, Health and Wellbeing. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199586974.001.0001
14.??Fancourt, D., and Finn, S. (2019). What Is the Evidence on the Role of the Arts in Improving Health and Well-Being? A Scoping Review. Copenhagen: World Health Organisation.
15.??van den Elzen, N., Daman, V., Duijkers, M., Otte, K., Wijnhoven, E., Timmerman, H., et al. (2019). The power of music: enhancing muscle strength in older people. Healthcare 7:82. doi: 10.3390/healthcare7030082
16.??Guhn, M., Emerson, S. D., and Gouzouasis, P. (2019). A population-level analysis of associations between school music participation and academic achievement. J. Educ. Psychol. 112:308–328. doi: 10.1037/edu0000376
17.??Welch, G. F., Himonides, E., Saunders, J., Papageorgi, I., and Sarazin, M. (2014). Singing and social inclusion. Front. Psychol. 5:803. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00803
18.??Elvers, P., Fischinger, T., and Steffens, J. (2017). Music listening as self-enhancement: effects of empowering music on momentary explicit and implicit self-esteem. Psychol. Music 46:307–325. doi: 10.1177/0305735617707354
19.??Brancatisano O, Baird A, Thompson WF. A 'Music, Mind and Movement' Program for People With Dementia: Initial Evidence of Improved Cognition. Front Psychol. 2019 Jul 16;10:1435. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01435. PMID: 31379638; PMCID: PMC6646671.
20.??Wilson GB and MacDonald RAR. The Social Impact of Musical Engagement for Young Adults With Learning Difficulties: A Qualitative Study Front. Psychol., 28 June 2019 Sec. Performance Science??Volume 10 - 2019 |?https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01300
21.??Nikol L, Kuan G, Ong M, Chang YK, Terry PC. The Heat Is On: Effects of Synchronous Music on Psychophysiological Parameters and Running Performance in Hot and Humid Conditions. Front Psychol. 2018 Jul 10;9:1114. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01114. PMID: 30072929; PMCID: PMC6048422.
22.??A Study Investigating the Relaxation Effects of the Music Track Weightless by Marconi Union in consultation with Lyz Cooper.?https://www.britishacademyofsoundtherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Mindlab-Report-Weightless-Radox-Spa.pdf ?Accessed May 2023
Tim Hardman?is Managing Director of?Niche Science & Technology Ltd ., a UK-based CRO, Chairman of the?Association of Human Pharmacology in the Pharmaceutical Industry , President of the?European Federation for Exploratory Medicines Development? and occasional commentator on science, business and drug development.