Effects of music listening on cortisol levels and propofol consumption during spinal anesthesia
Stefan Koelsch1,2*,
Julian Fuermetz
2,3,
Ulrich Sack
4,
Katrin Bauer
5,
Maximilian Hohenadel
2,
Martin Wiegel
3,
Udo X. Kaisers
3 and Wolfgang Heinke
3
- 1 Cluster of Excellence “Languages of Emotion,” Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- 2 Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- 3 Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Therapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- 4 Translational Center for Regenerative Medicine Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- 5 Institute of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Background: This study explores effects of instrumental music on the hormonal system (as indicated by serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone), the immune system (as indicated by immunoglobulin A) and sedative drug requirements during surgery (elective total hip joint replacement under spinal anesthesia with light sedation). This is the first study investigating this issue with a double-blind design using instrumental music. Methodology/Principal Findings: Patients (n = 40) were randomly assigned either to a music group (listening to instrumental music), or to a control group (listening to a non-musical placebo stimulus). Both groups listened to the auditory stimulus about 2 h before, and during the entire intra-operative period (during the intra-operative light sedation, subjects were able to respond lethargically to verbal commands). Results indicate that, during surgery, patients of the music group had a lower propofol consumption, and lower cortisol levels, compared to the control group. Conclusion/Significance: Our data show that listening to music during surgery under regional anesthesia has effects on cortisol levels (reflecting stress-reducing effects) and reduces sedative requirements to reach light sedation.
Keywords: emotion, music, hormones, immunology, anesthesia, cortisol, IgA, ACTH
Citation: Koelsch S, Fuermetz J, Sack U, Bauer K, Hohenadel M, Wiegel M, Kaisers UX and Heinke W (2011) Effects of music listening on cortisol levels and propofol consumption during spinal anesthesia. Front. Psychology 2:58. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00058
Received: 20 February 2011;
Paper pending published: 07 March 2011;
Accepted: 24 March 2011;
Published online: 05 April 2011.
Copyright: © 2011 Koelsch, Fuermetz, Sack, Bauer, Hohenadel, Wiegel, Kaisers and Heinke. This is an open-access article subject to a non-exclusive license between the authors and Frontiers Media SA, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in other forums, provided the original authors and source are credited and other Frontiers conditions are complied with.
*Correspondence: Stefan Koelsch, Cluster of Excellence “Languages of Emotion,” Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany. e-mail: s.koelsch@fu-berlin.de