https://www.psychologytoday.

com/blog/the-theory-cognitive-modes/201405/left-brain-right-brain-two-
sides-always-working-together
http://bestbinauralbeats.org/how-music-affects-our-mood/

J Music Ther. 2002 Spring;39(1):30-9.

The effects of active and passive participation in musical activity

on the immune system as measured by salivary immunoglobulin
A (SIgA).
Kuhn D1.
Author information
Abstract
The purposes of this study were (a) to determine if musical activity would produce a significant change in
the immune system as measured by Salivary Immunoglobulin A (SIgA), and (b) to determine if active
participation in musical activity had a significantly different effect on the immune system than passive
participation. Thirty-three participants (28 women and 5 men) were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups,
2 experimental and 1 control. Active group participants participated in a 30-minute session where they
played various percussive instruments and sang. Passive group participants listened to 30 minutes worth
of live music. Saliva samples were taken before and after sessions and SIgA concentrations were
determined using radial immunodiffusion technique. All groups were found to be significantly different
from each other. SIgA levels of the active group showed a significantly greater increase than those of the
passive group and the control group, suggesting that active participation in musical activity produces a
greater effect on the immune system than passive participation.

Schmerz. 2001 Apr;15(2):116-25.

[Music therapy for chronic headaches. Evaluation of music

therapeutic groups for patients suffering from chronic
headaches].
[Article in German]

Risch M1, Scherg H, Verres R.

Author information
Abstract
PROBLEM:
This paper presents a new approach to music therapeutic treatments. We developed a short time
treatment ( 8 group sessions) for patients suffering from chronic headaches. The multimodal concept of
this headache treatment and particularly the effect of a sound trance on headache patients are explained
and evaluated in this paper.
METHODS:
An evaluation study was done with 34 patients, who belonged to four therapy groups. In order to evaluate
this treatment the patients were interviewed and had to fill out several self-rating scales about pain and
some psychological variables (e. g. depression) before, directly after and 6-12 months after the treatment.
This treatment group (n=26) was compared to a small waiting group (n=9). A case study elucidated the
psycho-social anamnesis, and the process and outcome of the music therapy.
RESULTS:
The case study shows that the sound trance caused a loss of the affect control or at least reduced it. This
experience enabled the patients to develop creative solutions, which resulted in a pain relief 6-12 month
later. The comparison of the statistic means directly before and after the treatment did not reveal many
therapeutic effects. Yet, 6-12 months later many patients reported less days at which they suffered from
headaches; and they also significantly improved their ability of pain control.
CONCLUSION:
The results indicate that music therapy groups are more successful than a waiting group. The study's
results agree with numerous other psychological evaluation studies and shows once more that music
therapists working with patients suffering from chronic headaches are able to achieve successful results
particularly long-dated. Thus, creative therapeutic approaches supplement the medical treatment, as they
help the patients to develop an adaptive way of coping their pain. Yet, it will need further research to
confirm the benefit of music therapy for patients suffering from chronic pain.

Eur J Pain. 2008 Apr;12(3):301-13. Epub 2007 Jul 30.

Butterbur root extract and music therapy in the prevention of

childhood migraine: an explorative study.
Oelkers-Ax R1, Leins A, Parzer P, Hillecke T, Bolay HV, Fischer J, Bender S, Hermanns
U, Resch F.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Migraine is very common in school-aged children, but despite a number of pharmacological and non-
pharmacological options for prophylaxis, randomized controlled evidence in children is small. Evidence-
based prophylactic drugs may have considerable side effects.
OBJECTIVE:
This study was to assess efficacy of a butterbur root extract (Petadolex) and music therapy in primary
school children with migraine.
DESIGN:
Prospective, randomized, partly double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.
METHODS:
Following a 8-week baseline patients were randomized and received either butterbur root extract (n=19),
music therapy (n=20) or placebo (n=19) over 12 weeks. All participants received additionally headache
education ("treatment as usual") from the baseline onwards. Reduction of headache frequency after
treatment (8-week post-treatment) as well as 6 months later (8-week follow-up) was the efficacy variable.
RESULTS:
Data analysis of subjects completing the respective study phase showed that during post-treatment, only
music therapy was superior to placebo (p=0.005), whereas in the follow-up period both music therapy and
butterbur root extract were superior to placebo (p=0.018 and p=0.044, respectively). All groups showed a
substantial reduction of attack frequency already during baseline.
CONCLUSION:
Butterbur root extract and music therapy might be superior to placebo and may represent promising
treatment approaches in the prophylaxis of paediatric migraine.

Brain. 2008 Mar;131(Pt 3):866-76. doi: 10.1093/brain/awn013.

Music listening enhances cognitive recovery and mood after

middle cerebral artery stroke.
Särkämö T1, Tervaniemi M, Laitinen S, Forsblom A, Soinila S, Mikkonen M, Autti
T, Silvennoinen HM, Erkkilä J, Laine M, Peretz I, Hietanen M.
Author information
Abstract
We know from animal studies that a stimulating and enriched environment can enhance recovery after
stroke, but little is known about the effects of an enriched sound environment on recovery from neural
damage in humans. In humans, music listening activates a wide-spread bilateral network of brain regions
related to attention, semantic processing, memory, motor functions, and emotional processing. Music
exposure also enhances emotional and cognitive functioning in healthy subjects and in various clinical
patient groups. The potential role of music in neurological rehabilitation, however, has not been
systematically investigated. This single-blind, randomized, and controlled trial was designed to determine
whether everyday music listening can facilitate the recovery of cognitive functions and mood after stroke.
In the acute recovery phase, 60 patients with a left or right hemisphere middle cerebral artery (MCA)
stroke were randomly assigned to a music group, a language group, or a control group. During the
following two months, the music and language groups listened daily to self-selected music or audio
books, respectively, while the control group received no listening material. In addition, all patients
received standard medical care and rehabilitation. All patients underwent an extensive
neuropsychological assessment, which included a wide range of cognitive tests as well as mood and
quality of life questionnaires, one week (baseline), 3 months, and 6 months after the stroke. Fifty-four
patients completed the study. Results showed that recovery in the domains of verbal memory and
focused attention improved significantly more in the music group than in the language and control groups.
The music group also experienced less depressed and confused mood than the control group. These
findings demonstrate for the first time that music listening during the early post-stroke stage can enhance
cognitive recovery and prevent negative mood. The neural mechanisms potentially underlying these
effects are discussed.

The effect of music on hypertensive patients.

Teng XF1, Wong MY, Zhang YT.
Author information
 Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine if, and to what extent, daily listening to a certain type of music can
help hypertensive patients lower their blood pressure (BP). Experiments were conducted at an elderly
home. Thirty subjects aged 63-93 years participated in the study and were randomly assigned into either
a music group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). There were no significant differences between the two
groups in initial BP values, age, gender, or medication status. Subjects in the music group listened to
selected music, 25 min every day for 4 weeks. BP was measured twice a week by a registered nurse with
a sphygmomanometer during the 4-week study period and after the completion of the study. Four
subjects dropped from the experiment due to a change of medical conditions or to personal reasons. After
4 weeks, the average decrease for the music group (n=12) in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP)
was 11.8 mmHg (p=0.008) and 4.7 mmHg (p=0.218), respectively, whereas there was no significant
changes in SBP or DBP for the control group (n=14). The results suggest that listening to a certain type of
music serves to reduce high SBP and therefore music therapy may be an alterative for hypertension
treatment.

The effect of Bach's Magnificat on emotions, immune, and

endocrine parameters during physiotherapy treatment of patients
with infectious lung conditions.
le Roux FH1, Bouic PJ, Bester MM.
Author information

 1
Physiotherapy Private Practice, Fish Hoek, South Africa.

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Bach's Magnificat on emotions, immune, and
endocrine parameters in patients of specific infectious lung conditions. Participants (N = 40; 9 men & 31
women) ranging in age from 40 to 75 participated in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to an
experimental and control group. During a 3-day period the experimental group received physiotherapy
with the selected music, while the control group only received physiotherapy. ANOVA statistics indicate
significant changes in the following parameters: POMS-scale, CD4+:CD8+ ratio, cortisol, and
cortisol:DHEA ratio. The intervention of music demonstrates communication between the mind and body.