Neuroscientists Found The Most Relaxing Song

By: Anna Todd

Manage your stress with a perfect tune backed by science.

August 01, 2019

How do you manage stress? Maybe you blow off steam by going on a run, or practice the art of mindfulness with meditation or a yoga class. You might know that music therapy has proven effective in managing stress, but did you know that neuroscientists have determined the most relaxing song? Give it a listen in the video at the end of this article, then decide if you agree with their findings.

Listen and Chill

The song is "Weightless" by English ambient music band, Marconi Union. UK neuroscientists from Mindlab International conducted a study in which they instructed participants to solve difficult puzzles while they were attached to sensors. While the puzzles did their magic raising the participants' stress levels, the scientists measured their brain activity, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson of Mindlab International explains to Inc. that "Weightless" "produced a greater state of relaxation than any other music tested to date," dropping participants' anxiety rate by 65 percent.

You're Getting Sleepy

How does this happen? As Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, reports, "The song contains a sustaining rhythm that starts at 60 beats per minute and gradually slows to around 50. While listening, your heart rate gradually comes to match that beat." It's a phenomenon called "entrainment." This reduction in heart rate leads to a reduction in blood pressure.

Cooper says the gaps between notes "have been chosen to create a feeling of euphoria and comfort. And there is no repeating melody, which allows your brain to completely switch off because you are no longer trying to predict what is coming next." The song was actually created for the purpose of stress reduction. It was a collaboration between the band and a group of sound therapists. If you're into testing music therapy yourself, listen to Mindlab International's full playlist.

This article first appeared on Curiosity.com.

Next Up

Quiz: Test Your Space Exploration Knowledge

Ahead of the historic May 27th NASA and SpaceX crewed space launch, test your space exploration knowledge!

We Have Liftoff: Congratulations to NASA and SpaceX

Here's to NASA, SpaceX, Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, and all of the engineers, scientists, and staff involved with the Saturday, May 30th historical launch.

World's First Malaria Vaccine Offers Hope to Millions

Tens of thousands of lives could be saved each year from sickness and death caused by malaria following the World Health Organization (WHO) approval of a first-ever vaccine. Scientists have recommended the RTS,S vaccine for children in sub-Saharan Africa and other high-risk areas to prevent one of the world’s oldest and deadliest infectious diseases.

Last Call for the King of Planets

This month Jupiter is entering conjunction which means it's the last chance this year to catch a glimpse of the largest planet in our solar system.

Check Out the Crab Nebula –The Leftovers from a Giant Cosmic Firework

The Crab Nebula sits 6,500 light-years away, and is currently about 11 light-years across. But while it looks pretty from afar, don’t give in to the temptation to visit it up close.

Survival Chemistry: The Ingredients for Life on Earth

Oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and a few other elements from the periodic table make up 99% of our bodies.

That’s a (Weirdly) Big Black Hole!

Recently astronomers identified a black hole near a star called LB-1 and they found out that the black hole is 70 times the mass of the sun. This is a mystery because the biggest black holes we can get from the deaths of the most massive stars are around 30 times the mass of the sun, so how did black hole get this big?