A recent study by psychologists Daniel Mullen and Frank Russo of Toronto Metropolitan University showed that 24 minutes of listening to carefully selected music with aural rhythmic stimulation reduces anxiety.
According to Medical Xpress, anxiety disorders affect millions of people worldwide. While medication and cognitive behavioral therapy remain standard treatments, they are often associated with side effects, high costs, long waiting lists, and significant time commitments. Therefore, digital music therapy offers a quick and easy way to reduce anxiety symptoms without medication.
The study, conducted by the two scientists, included 144 adults with moderate anxiety who were already taking medication to alleviate it. Participants were randomly divided into four groups: a control group that listened to pink noise (24 minutes), and groups that listened to music accompanied by aural rhythmic stimulation for 12, 24, and 36 minutes.
The researchers assessed anxiety levels and psychological state using standardized questionnaires before and after the session. The results showed that music accompanied by rhythmic sound stimulation reduced cognitive and physical symptoms of anxiety, as well as improving negative mood, compared to flicker noise.
It turned out that the most significant effect was in a 24-minute session, which was as effective as a 36-minute hearing, and much better than a 12-minute session.
"We observed a dose-response relationship, with approximately 24 minutes of music accompanied by rhythmic sound stimulation appearing to be optimal," said scientist Russo. "This duration is sufficient to tangibly change the level of anxiety, but it is not long-lasting, so it requires the listener to dedicate more time to it."
