Music, Relaxation and Silence Improves Energy Levels

A controlled, clinical trial at The University of Kansas examined the effects of subject-preferred music and relaxation instructions on older adults' energy and working memory.

Fifteen female older adults participated in 10 minutes of all 3 experimental conditions, which consisted of: (a) subject-preferred music, (b) relaxation instructions, and (c) silence control.

Four subcategories of anxiety level, energy, tiredness, tension, and calmness, were measured before and after experimental treatment using the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List by Thayer (1978). After each experimental condition, subjects had a working memory test by Daneman and Carpenter (1980).

Results of the analysis of the findings indicated that music increased subjects' energy levels, but relaxation and silence significantly decreased energy levels. Relaxation and silence increased their tiredness and calmness levels. All experimental conditions decreased subjects' tension levels. The scores in the working memory test were not significantly different among experimental conditions.

Results did not indicate clear relationships between the four subcategories of arousal levels and working memory scores, but they did suggest that subject-preferred music has potential to increase older adults' energetic arousal and reduce tension.

Citation: Hirokawa E. Effects of music listening and relaxation instructions on arousal changes and the working memory task in older adults. Journal of Music Therapy. 2004 Summer; 41 (2): pages 107-27.