Musical gatherings are a universal theme in every culture throughout the globe. It’s common knowledge that attending a public event is an easy way to boost your mood, even if you’re socially anxious and spend the duration in a corner with friends. However, now we’ve been presented with facts supporting the notion that live music can actually reduce stress and balance the endocrine system.
Over the years, dozens of studies have attempted to measure the range of music’s effect on humans, but never before have these tests been done with the added variable of ‘public setting.’ A recent study included 117 volunteers in a music concert showcasing the music of composer Eric Whitacre. The volunteers possessed a range of concert experiences, some having attended more than 100 concerts per year, others making this their first live music encounter.
Scientists took saliva samples of subjects over the course of two separate concerts using the same parameters, once before the performance and again 60 minutes into the show. The findings show significant reductions in cortisol and cortisone, with DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) levels dipping in women and rising in men.
Cortisol and cortisone are directly responsible for what we call “stress,” and DHEA is the most abundant steroid in our bodies, responsible for lowering cholesterol, improving muscle building and enhancing immune response. DHEA has even been linked to certain emotional responses like the “warm-heartedness” so commonly felt at raves.
“This is the first preliminary evidence that attending a cultural event can have an impact on endocrine activity.”
The researches plan to continue investigating the effects of different music, and we can’t wait to see the results after they hit up an electronic act.
