IJP: Music Reduces Cortisol Levels More Than Twice as Much as Pink Noise

The study, titled "Differences in Subjective and Psychophysiological Responses to a Music Intervention for Anxiety," was published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology.

The study involved 83 undergraduate students who reported experiencing at least one recent symptom of generalized anxiety. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. The first group listened for 24 minutes to music tailored to each individual's initial mood and gradually adjusted to promote a calmer, more positive emotional state. The music was combined with auditory beat stimulation (ABS).

The second group listened to pink noise — a steady sound often used for relaxation and concentration. Its volume matched that of the music played to the first group.

Before and after the listening sessions, the researchers measured cortisol levels, brain activity and heart rate variability, and assessed participants' anxiety and mood.

Both types of sound exposure were associated with reduced self-reported anxiety and improved mood. However, the physiological responses differed. Fifteen minutes after listening, the reduction in cortisol levels in the personalized music group was more than twice as pronounced as in the pink noise group. Brain activity associated with emotional regulation increased slightly after music exposure but decreased after pink noise. Changes in heart rate variability were comparable in both groups.

According to the researchers, the findings show that subjective experiences and physiological responses may reflect the effects of sound-based interventions differently. Therefore, when evaluating stress management approaches, it is important to consider not only how much calmer a person feels but also changes in biological markers.