Sounds that can soothe

TAILORED music and tones put together specifically to trigger brain activity changes can reduce anxiety symptoms, according to international research.

The team recruited participants taking anti-anxiety medications and asked them to listen to a 24-minute session of music tailored for them using artificial intelligence, auditory beat stimulation, both, or pink noise (background sounds similar to white noise).

The researchers say among those with moderate anxiety, the combination of music and ABS was most effective at reducing physical anxiety symptoms. For those with high anxiety, music alone was most effective.

“The findings from this research are exciting as they indicate that personalised music shows great promise in effectively reducing anxiety in specific segments of the population that suffer from anxiety,” researchers say.