Quantification of the effects of listening to music as a noninvasive method of pain control.

This study quantified the effects of listening to music as a noninvasive nursing method of pain control. The effects of soothing and stimulating music on pain and tactile thresholds, heart rate, and blood pressure were determined on healthy female volunteers (N = 10) in a laboratory setting. Data were analyzed by ANOVA for repeated measures and post hoc comparison tests. Soothing music significantly elevated pain thresholds but not tactile thresholds. Stimulating music significantly elevated pain thresholds as well as tactile thresholds. Neither stimulating nor soothing music had a significant effect on autonomic activity. Based on the results of this laboratory study and other studies, the effects of listening to music on people in pain warrants further examination.