Re: Can a persons heart rate be affected through music ?

Dear Jillian,

There are several studies that have investigated the relation between 
heart rate and music listening. Although there are great inter-individual 
differences, it seems that listening to music considered as « relaxative » 
tends to decrease heart rate whereas listening to other kind of music such 
as techno music will increase heart rate. Here are some interesting 
references about this subject. I suggest you to read in first the paper by 
Iwanaga & Tsukamoto (1997).

Best regards,
Eric


Scheufele P.M.
Effects of progressive relaxation and classical music on measurements of 
attention, relaxation, and stress responses.
Journal of Behavioral Medicine 2000 Apr;23(2):207-28

Burns J. et al.
Perceived and physiological indicators of relaxation: as different as 
Mozart and Alice in chains.
Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback 1999 Sep;24(3):197-202

Oishi K. et al.
Individual differences in physiological responses and type A behavior 
pattern.
Applied Human Science 1999 May;18(3):101-8

White J.M.
Effects of relaxing music on cardiac autonomic balance and anxiety after 
acute myocardial infarction.
American Journal of Critical Care 1999 Jul;8(4):220-30

Gerra G., et al.,
Neuroendocrine responses of healthy volunteers to 'techno-music': 
relationships with personality traits and emotional state.
International Journal of Psychophysiology 1998 Jan;28(1):99-111

Krumhansl C.L.
An exploratory study of musical emotions and psychophysiology.
Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology 1997 Dec;51(4):336-53

Iwanaga M. and Tsukamoto M.
Effects of excitative and sedative music on subjective and physiological 
relaxation.
Perceptual & Motor Skills 1997 Aug;85(1):287-96

Byers J.F. and Smyth K.A.
Effect of a music intervention on noise annoyance, heart rate, and blood 
pressure in cardiac surgery patients.
American Journal of Critical Care 1997 May;6(3):183-91

Iwanaga M.
Relationship between heart rate and preference for tempo of music.
Perceptual & Motor Skills 1995 Oct;81(2):435-40

Blumenstein B. et al.
Regulation of mental states and biofeedback techniques: effects on 
breathing pattern.
Biofeedback & Self Regulation 1995 Jun;20(2):169-83

Barnason S. et al.
The effects of music interventions on anxiety in the patient after 
coronary artery bypass grafting.
Heart & Lung 1995 Mar-Apr;24(2):124-32

Chlan L.L.
Psychophysiologic responses of mechanically ventilated patients to music: 
a pilot study.
American Journal of Critical Care 1995 May;4(3):233-8


Vanderark S.D. and Ely D.
University biology and music majors' emotional ratings of musical stimuli 
and their physiological correlates of heart, rate, finger temperature, and 
blood pressure.
Perceptual & Motor Skills 1994 Dec;79(3 Pt 1):1391-7

Fontaine C.W. and Schwalm N.D.
Effects of familiarity of music on vigilant performance.
Perceptual & Motor Skills 1979 Aug;49(1):71-4