The Role of Music in Linking Mind and Body

Sean Nolan RMT

Historical Context

Antiquity

Egypt (5000 BC) music healers

- Privileged position in society- Influence with politicians and priests - Disease treated with chant therapies- Abu Terbo treated epilepsy with pipes chant- Music used during childbirth Music = “medicine for the soul“

China (3000 BC)

- Prescribed personal tones

- Embodied heaven

- Energy formulae

“Music affects emotional and physical health”

Babylon (1850 BC)

- Disease = religious framework

- Music used in healing rites

- Music placated offended deity

Israel (1000 BC)

- King Saul: rages

- Harp music: receptive relaxation

Greece (429-384 BC)

Apollo: god of music and medicine

Plato: music = “medicine for the soul”

Aristotle: music affects emotions and

character

Music controlled by the State

Middle Ages – 19th Century

Music used in conjunction with medical treatment

- Melancholy

- Pain

- Unspecified respiratory diseases

- Despair, madness

- Attending concerts for 2 weeks prescribed (18th C)

- Powerful influence on the mind, affecting body (19th C)

Music = bringing mind and body into harmony

20th Century

- Music used with returning soldiers WW1 and WW2

- Psychological and physical conditions

- Pain management

- Insomnia

- Terminal illnesses

- Surgery

Current: Educational, institutional, behavioural,

psychotherapeutic and medical settings

Music = Food of neuroscience

Relaxation

State of profound rest- Repetition- Passive disregard for everyday thoughts

Techniques  - Diaphragmatic breathing - Exercise    - Imagery  - Listening to music  - Meditation - Prayer  - Yoga

Relaxing receptive music

Music as Therapy- MAR is most popular application- Elicits emotions (Limbic System)- Facilitates change in emotions, mood, and body- Stimulates relaxation response

Music and Imagery - More effective when combined - Stimulates cortical activity (Cognition) - Stimulates learning

Common elements

- Slow, stable tempo

- Low volume level

- Consistent texture

- Absence of percussive and accented rhythms

- Gentle timbre

- Legato melodies

- Simple harmonic / chord progressions

Clinical Applications

- Decreased pre-operative anxiety - Decreased perception of post-operative pain - Decreased post-operative recovery time - Decreased nausea during chemotherapy - Decreased stress and state anxiety - Induced relaxation response

Case studies

Olivia (10 yrs) : Non-specific abdomen pain: JHCH

Troy (17 yrs) : Broken bones (motor bike): JHCH

Rebecca (42) : Shoulder pain: D & A

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)

Overview: Mind-Body ConnectionCortex

- Receives external sensory input

- Relays information to amygdala, hippocampus

- Relays information to hypothalamus

Hypothalamus

- Monitors external/internal change

- Mediates autonomic nervous, endocrine, immune systems

- Secretes “stress hormone” (CRH) to pituitary gland

- Sends neural impulses via SNS to adrenal glands (interior)

Pituitary gland - Secretes ACTH to

adrenal glands (exterior)

Adrenal glands - Manufacture and secrete more cortisol to hypothalamus and

immune cells in response to ACTH from pituitary gland

- Manufacture and secrete more adrenaline to heart and blood

vessels in response to neurotransmitters from hypothalamus

Cortisol - Regulates stress response

in hypothalamus

- Regulates production and

efficiency of immune cells

Immune cells - Attack external and internal invaders

- Release cytokines (Interleukin 1)

Natural Killer (NK) (purple)

Target cell

Killer T cells (blue)

Cancer cell

Mind-Body Response to Music

Processing music Medulla (Brain stem)

- Controls autonomic functions (eg heart

rate, respiration) - Rhythmic order = hypnotic effect

Reticular Formation (Brain stem) - Regulates cortical electrical pulses

- Impacts entire cerebral cortex

Processing music (cont.)

Medial geniculate body (Thalamus)

- Activates limbic system and cortex

- Affects emotion and cognition

Hypothalamus

- Mediates Autonomic Nervous, Endocrine, and

Immune Systems

- Elicits neural, chemical and hormonal responses

Clinical Applications

Imagery: Increased immune function

Music: Increase in Interleukin 1, decrease in cortisol

Music and imagery: Increased immune function, decrease in cortisol

Pain Management Strategies

Imagery and music designed to affect:

Pain sensors

Endorphin release (hypothalamus, pituitary gland)

“Pain tune” neurotags

Perceived danger

Virtual body

The Role of Music in Linking Mind and Body

Sean Nolan RMT