Auditory stimulation and cardiac autonomic regulation

• Grant number: 12/06250-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Vitor Engrácia Valenti
• Grantee: Vitor Engrácia Valenti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências (FFC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Marília. Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The literature has already demonstrated that auditory stimulation with music influences the cardiovascular system. In this study, we described the relationship between musical auditory stimulation and heart rate variability. METHODS: Searches were performed on Medline, SciELO, Lilacs and Cochrane databases using the crossing between the key-words: "auditory stimulation", "autonomic nervous system", "music" and "heart rate variability". RESULTS: The selected studies indicated that there is a strong correlation between noise intensity and vagal-sympathetic balance. Also, it was reported that music therapy improved heart rate variability in anthracycline-treated breast cancer patients. It was hypothesized that dopamine release in the striatal system induced by pleasure songs are involved in the cardiac autonomic regulation. CONCLUSION: Musical auditory stimulation influences heart rate variability through neural mechanism not well understood. Further studies are necessary to add new elements in the literature to improve new therapies to treat cardiovascular disorders. (AU)