The Sedative Effects of Music Listening on Pain During Cold Pressor Test

Evaluation of the Sedative Effect of Music Listening on Pain Induced by a Thermal Stimulus (Cold Pressor Test)

This study aims to understand whether listening to music can reduce pain and anxiety caused by a cold-temperature stimulus in healthy young adults (n = 30). It also seeks to identify which musical and neurocognitive factors can produce a calming, analgesic (reduce pain), and anxiolytic (reduce anxiety) effect.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does music based on universal musical features (such as melodic structure, modal scales, intervals, and tempo) help reduce pain and anxiety, regardless of culture or personal taste?
• Does music that reflects the participant's cultural rhythmic background-especially rhythmic styles from the Levant-change how pain and anxiety are perceived during the cold test?
• Does music selected according to each participant's personal listening habits and musical preferences have a sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic effect?
• Are the calming effects of music the result of multiple combined factors-universal musical traits, cultural influences, and personal preferences-and how do these factors interact to create an overall therapeutic effect during the cold test?

Participants will:

• Take part in 1 session of 7 or 8 phases of cold pressor test
• Give their feedback in a qualitative questionnaire after each phase
• Answer brief questions about their musical background and preferences

This study aims to deepen our understanding of how musical and neurocognitive elements contribute to the sedative effect of music during care situations, and to support the development of a more precise and personalized musical model for use in dental procedures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy volunteers aged 18 to 35 years.
• Ability to provide written informed consent.
• Willingness to comply with the study protocol and attend the session.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with acute or chronic pain.
• Participants with a history of cardiovascular disorders.
• Participants currently taking analgesic medications.
• Participants with a recent wound on either hand.
• Participants with a history of hand fracture.
• Participants with dermatological conditions affecting the hand.
• Participants with a history of frostbite.
• Participants currently taking neuropsychiatric medications.
• Participants able to keep their hand immersed for 4 minutes during the silence (control) phase of the cold pressor test.