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   Jun 22

Why Mozart beats Abba when it comes to matters of the heart

Blood pressure tested listening to Mozart, Strauss, Abba and silence

Mozart and Strauss listeners had lower heart rates and blood pressure

Lyrics in Abba thought to stimulate brain rather than cause relaxation

Levels of stress hormone cortisol fell in all those who listened to music

Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in g minor was found to lower blood pressure and heart rates, unlike Abba or silence, a study found

The music of Mozart and Strauss has been found to significantly lowered blood pressure and heart rates.

Researchers looking at the effects of classical music found the two composers were far more effective than listening to Abba, or silence.

The effects worked even in people who did not normally listen to classical music.

In the study, 60 participants listened to either

*Mozart’s symphony No. 40 in G minor

* Johan Strauss’s Unforgettable Melodies or

* Abba Classic – a 2009 compilation which includes Thank You For The Music, The Winner Takes it All and Fernando.

A control group of a further 60 people rested in silence.

The heart rates, blood pressure and the measure of cortisol, a hormone that indicates stress levels, were taken in subjects.

The researchers found the music by Mozart and Strauss lowered systolic blood pressure by 4.7mm hg and 3.7mm hg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.1mm Hg and 2.9mm Hg.

Music by Abba reduced systolic blood pressure by a much smaller amount – 1.7mm hg and had a minuscule effect on diastolic blood pressure.

Levels of the stress hormone cortisol fell in all three groups.

The NHS recommends blood pressure drugs to be taken when blood pressure is classed as 160mmHg /100mmHg.

If blood pressure is above 140mmHg/ 90mmHg the there are various recommended lifestyle changes.

These include cutting salt intake; eating a low fat diet with plenty of fruit and veg; getting more exercise; cutting down on alcohol; losing weight; drinking less caffeine; stopping smoking and getting at least six hours sleep a night.’

The work was published in Deutsches Arzteblatt, the journal of the German Medical Association.

In conclusion, the authors state: ‘Music by Mozart and Strauss lowered the subjects’ blood pressure and heart rate, while music by Abba did not.

Lyrics in Abba’s music may stimulate the brain rather than calm it, according to German researchers

‘Mozart’s music had the strongest effect; the piece used was his Symphony No. 40 in G minor.’

The authors said that previous research into Mozart has found his music relaxing because of the above average degree of periodicity – in other words it repeats the same pattern at regular time intervals.

Other research has found that babies whose mothers had listened to the music of Mozart during pregnancies were calmer and less aggressive.

The authors said Strauss’s dances may have been effective because they are ‘based on simple structures, catchy melodies and periodically recurring forms….without any distinctive dissonances’.

The authors think that Abba’s lack of effectiveness may have been because the use of words in music may stimulate the brain rather than calming it.

Source: Daily Mail

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