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Does music affect the heart rate?

Girl with headphones

Recent scientific research suggests that music can influence a persons relaxation, and have a positive impact on a persons heart rhythms. A study that was published in “Heart”, a British Medical Journal publication investigated the effects of a variety of musical genres ranging from techno and reggae to classical.

Tempo and the human body

It was found that music with a faster tempo can cause:

Increased breathing rate
Increased heart rate
Increased blood pressure

When the music with a fast tempo was paused, the following effects were noticed, with some falling below the beginning rate:

Slower breathing rate
Slower heart rate
Lower blood pressure

Slower music seemed to have an opposite effect to the fast music with a significant fall in heart rate. Reggae caused the largest decline in the heart rate.

It seems that the style of music does not have as much of an effect on the human body as the tempo and pace of the music does.

Music Therapy

Even before science research verified that music can be used to influence the human body, it has been used as a form of therapy. Music therapy is a healthcare profession that uses the effects of music to improve the social, cognitive, emotional and physical aspects of a person. There are many claims made that it can :

Promote wellness
Manage stress
Alleviate pain
Express feelings
Enhance memory
Improve communication
Promote physical rehabilitation.

Does music affect the heart rate?

So does music affect the heart rate? Yes. The music tempo effects our heart rate and music has many positive effects on the human body.

Tags: Body, Heart, Music, Tempo

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Comments / Replies

John Says:
12 March, 2007 at 2:44 pm

Thank you! I need this for my science fair project and I will take info. from here and put it in my own words. I am working on how Music affects the Heart Rate stuff
Laura Says:
22 October, 2007 at 5:20 am

Thank you so much! I looked all over the internet for results and none were as adequate as yours was. I am doing a science project on which types of music will be the most popular with teenagers and I needed information on heart rate and how it affects music. I will be sure to recommend this site to my friends and teachers for further use.
Laura Says:
22 October, 2007 at 5:26 am

Thank you so much! I looked all over the web to find this information and none of the other sites had adequate information like yours does. I am doing a science project on which types of music are the most popular among teens and why. This really helped me, and I will be sure to recommend this site to my friends for future use!
maggie Says:
29 October, 2007 at 6:52 am

thanks so much!! i really needed some stuff for my science fair. I am doing "does music affect your heart rate" This site gave such a good idea for ways i can make my project more interesting!! thanks again!
Sam Says:
4 February, 2008 at 5:37 pm

Thanks guys! I needed these facts!
Daniela Armstrong Says:
12 November, 2008 at 5:20 am

Hi. I Love Billie Joe Armstrong. This really helped me with my Science Fair Project. Im Doing Does Music effect your Heart Rate. So thanks!
Dave Says:
12 November, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Thanks i needed this too
moonwalkgirl Says:
9 February, 2009 at 2:41 pm

thankz, i am absolutley in love with michael jackson a.k.a. the king of pop , and i wanted to do something with music for my science fair project so i will be able to have an excuse of looking at him online, thanks again
colet Says:
4 March, 2009 at 1:15 am

me too i also needed this for my science fair project.
Sabrina Says:
13 March, 2009 at 6:34 am

thnx SO MUCH! OMG, as i read the other comments its the same exct reasOn!!! thnak u for writin this article!!! ...... BTW, im from SAUDI ARABIA.. hard 2 believe i read ur article all the way frm here.

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