Changes in EEGs and other physiological indicators while listening to healing music

Subjects' EEGs were measured with other physiological indicators, such as respiration, pulse and SpO2, while listening to a kind of healing music, having its origin in nature. This music is said to have special therapeutic effects in its sound and utterance. Two males and two females aged from their 30's to 50's participated in this study. They had regularly joined in group healing sessions. During the present experimental session, subjects lay down and listened to music recorded on CDs for one hour and a half. EEGs during the session showed characteristics of the non-REM state. These occurred from the first to sometimes the third sleep stage and many sleep spindles were observed. At the same time REM-like stages were also observed and some dreams were reported. Furthermore the awake stages were mingled. Although the heart rate and the EEG frequency decreased during the session, the respiration rate was comparatively fast. The physiological state during the session was considered to be complex. Further analyses of the neuron activities of the brain inside and of fast components of the EEGs are required.