A Study Reveals the Calming Effect of Viola Music on Epilepsy Patients

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Epilepsy is a chronic, non-communicable brain disease that affects people of all ages, and approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases worldwide. Additionally, the risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is three times higher than in the general population. Source: World Health Organization

Patients undergoing testing for epilepsy often experience severe distress when their medications are reduced in a way that triggers seizures, and epilepsy monitoring requires simulating seizure-triggering conditions that often cause distress in Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) patients. Some researchers at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University conducted a research to provide evidence that live virtual Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music (CDIM) brings relief to Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) patients for their psychological distress. The research article specifically states that "COVID-19 hospital restrictions added another layer of stress during hospital admissions", so this study examined the "Calming Effect of Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music for patients admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit during the COVID-19 pandemic". Click for more and to take a look at the entire research.

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Figure 1. Nodes of the auditory pathway. CN, Cochlear Nuclei; IC, Inferior Colliculus; MGB, Medial Geniculate Body; AC, Auditory cortex; AMYG, Amygdala; AIC, Anterior Insular Cortex; ACC, Anterior Cingulate Cortex; PMC, Primary Motor Cortex; M1, Primary Motor Cortex. Note the connection between the auditory and emotional regions through the auditory limbic pathway. Reconstructed from Koelsch Source

In this study, researchers found patient-reported positive effects of CDIM and increased alpha/beta ratio with significant electroencephalographic correlations due to calming effects in response to CDIM. And it turns out that listening to live improvised viola music helps epilepsy patients achieve a meditative state, as electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements in the study show. And, according to participants, it reduces stress and anxiety. And in conclusion, this study provides evidence that live virtual CDIM offers demonstrable comfort with biological correlates for patients admitted to Epilepsy Monitoring Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I would like to say that the results of the research are not surprising to me because, thankfully, even though I do not have any disease, listening to viola or violin is calming for me. Especially when I am stressed or tired, I listen to viola or violin and they are really good for me and calm me down. I am not an expert, I just want to express my personal opinion, I think viola music can be calming not only for Epilepsy Patients but for everyone.

Music is powerful enough to change lives. Enjoy the music and stay with Love.