The effects of auditory stimulation with music on heart rate variability in healthy women

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:There are no data in the literature with regard to the acute effects of different styles of music on the geometric indices of heart rate variability. In this study, we evaluated the acute effects of relaxant baroque and excitatory heavy metal music on the geometric indices of heart rate variability in women.METHODS:We conducted this study in 21 healthy women ranging in age from 18 to 35 years. We excluded persons with previous experience with musical instruments and persons who had an affinity for the song styles. We evaluated two groups: Group 1 (n = 21), who were exposed to relaxant classical baroque musical and excitatory heavy metal auditory stimulation; and Group 2 (n = 19), who were exposed to both styles of music and white noise auditory stimulation. Using earphones, the volunteers were exposed to baroque or heavy metal music for five minutes. After the first music exposure to baroque or heavy metal music, they remained at rest for five minutes; subsequently, they were re-exposed to the opposite music (70-80 dB). A different group of women were exposed to the same music styles plus white noise auditory stimulation (90 dB). The sequence of the songs was randomized for each individual. We analyzed the following indices: triangular index, triangular interpolation of RR intervals and Poincaré plot (standard deviation of instantaneous beat-by-beat variability, standard deviation of the long-term RR interval, standard deviation of instantaneous beat-by-beat variability and standard deviation of the long-term RR interval ratio), low frequency, high frequency, low frequency/high frequency ratio, standard deviation of all the normal RR intervals, root-mean square of differences between the adjacent normal RR intervals and the percentage of adjacent RR intervals with a difference of duration greater than 50 ms. Heart rate variability was recorded at rest for 10 minutes.RESULTS:The triangular index and the standard deviation of the long-term RR interval indices were reduced during exposure to both music styles in the first group and tended to decrease in the second group whereas the white noise exposure decreased the high frequency index. We observed no changes regarding the triangular interpolation of RR intervals, standard deviation of instantaneous beat-by-beat variability and standard deviation of instantaneous beat-by-beat variability/standard deviation in the long-term RR interval ratio.CONCLUSION:We suggest that relaxant baroque and excitatory heavy metal music slightly decrease global heart rate variability because of the equivalent sound level.

Acute Effects of Auditory Stimulation With Heavy Metal Music on Heart Rate Responses

“…The volunteers were randomly exposed to the both music styles in the same day. In this line, a recent study [10] that used the ORIGINAL ARTICLES same experimental protocol of Roque et al [8], reported reduction of global HRV in men during exposure to Heavy Metal Universe from Gamma Ray. Taken together, we hypothesize that the mix of the music styles have influenced on their data.…”

“…There are two recent studies that support our findings. Roque et al [8] found no significant change of the time domain indices of HRV during exposure to the same heavy metal music. The same authors reported absence of significant changes in the time domain indices of HRV during exposure to Heavy Metal Universe from Gamma Ray in another study [9].…”

“…The same music was shown to reduce that index [8]. However, in the mentioned investigation the authors used a different protocol that was based on consecutive exposure to heavy metal and classical baroque music styles.…”

“…This tool was used to analyse the Leq (A), which is defined as the equivalent sound pressure level and the sound level corresponds to the same constant time interval. It contains the same total sound energy, which also analysed the spectrum of sound stimulation (eighth track) frequency [8] (Figure 1).…”

“…Although two recent studies showed reduced HRV during exposure to heavy metal musical auditory stimulation in healthy women [8,9], others found absence of cardiac Aim. Investigate the acute effects of heavy metal musical auditory stimulation on cardiac autonomic regulation.…”