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

Wildfire Challenge: Growing Investment in Firefighting Technology

Tackling rapid and destructive wildfires before they can spread over wide areas is one of the most pressing challenges for firefighters today.

Astronomers May Have Found a Rare “Free-Floating” Black Hole

How do you see a perfectly black object in the middle of a pitch-dark night? It sounds like the start of an annoying riddle, but it’s really the question faced by astronomers when they want to search for black holes.

Tree Planting and Reforestation Will Help Limit Global Warming

Planting new trees is one of the most effective ways to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and limit global warming.

Tornado Science: Predicting The Whirlwind

Tornadoes, wild rotating vortexes of high-speed winds, are among the most feared of nature’s destructive storm forces. Researchers are working tirelessly to predict these storms with better early-warning systems.

Waste Heat Can Be Transformed Into Abundant Clean Electricity

Waste heat is a worldwide energy problem most people have probably never heard about. Every machine and power station, even renewable energy like wind and solar, creates heat that is simply lost in the atmosphere. Thankfully, scientists and engineers are devoted to capturing heat and transforming it into useful electricity.

Scientists in China Discover Rare Moon Crystal that Could Power Earth

A rare lunar crystal found on the near side of the moon is giving scientists hope of providing limitless power for the world – forever.

Nanodiamond Sparkles as Miracle Material of Future Technology

Invisible to the naked eye and made from one of Earth’s most abundant elements, carbon, the wonder-material nanodiamond is an impressive creation. These tiny particles of diamond measure billionths of a meter in size, but their impact on future science is likely to be colossal.