J Shanghai Jiaotong Univ Sci ›› 2021, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (1): 55-62.doi: 10.1007/s12204-021-2260-1

• Medicine-Engineering Interdisciplinary Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Electroencephalogram Features of Anxiety Relieving During Music Listening

Electroencephalogram Features of Anxiety Relieving During Music Listening

GONG Yanling (龚艳玲), ZHUANG Siyue (庄似玥), ZHU Geng (朱耿), LI Liting (李丽婷), JIANG Hong (蒋宏), LI Xingwang (李兴旺), HE Lin (贺林), LIU Yeping (刘晔萍), ZHOU Lixian (周丽娴), LI Shengtian (李胜天)    

  1. (1. Bio-X Institutes; Institute of Social Cognition and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai
    200240, China; 2. Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China;
    3. Counseling and Support Services, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; 4. School of Humanities,
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; 5. Medical Instrumentation College, Shanghai University of
    Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China)
  2. (1. Bio-X Institutes; Institute of Social Cognition and Behavioral Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai
    200240, China; 2. Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China;
    3. Counseling and Support Services, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; 4. School of Humanities,
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; 5. Medical Instrumentation College, Shanghai University of
    Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China)
  • Online:2021-02-28 Published:2021-01-19
  • Contact: ZHOU Lixian (周丽娴), LI Shengtian (李胜天) E-mail:zhoulixian@sjtu.edu.cn, lstian@sjtu.edu.cn

Abstract: With the fast-accelerating pace of life, most of the population is troubled by anxious feelings, or they even developed anxiety disorders, which affect their life qualities viciously. The current treatment is not without drawbacks, such as exhibiting slow or acute effects only. Music therapy has shown promising outcomes in significantly reducing tension and anxiety in many studies. To explore the underlying mechanism, we recruited 12 undergraduate student volunteers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University with habits of music listening. We explored the changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum both during and after listening to selfselect favorite music, and the relation between EEG signals and anxiety-relieving during music listening. The results showed that the power of the β band in the right parietal area was significantly higher in those who were self-report able to relax during music listening compared with those who could not get relaxed. We observed power increased in the right parietal area of self-reports, not able to relax while music playing. Also, a significant difference in θ band power in the left frontal area and γ band in the right frontal area before and after music listening was observed between high anxiety group and low anxiety group. These results imply that β band activity in the left frontal area is associated with the anxiety-relieving capability of anxiety, which provides evidence for further elucidating the mechanism underlying anxiety-relieving during music listening.


Key words: anxiety| music| electroencephalogram (EEG)| β band| left frontal area

摘要: With the fast-accelerating pace of life, most of the population is troubled by anxious feelings, or they even developed anxiety disorders, which affect their life qualities viciously. The current treatment is not without drawbacks, such as exhibiting slow or acute effects only. Music therapy has shown promising outcomes in significantly reducing tension and anxiety in many studies. To explore the underlying mechanism, we recruited 12 undergraduate student volunteers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University with habits of music listening. We explored the changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum both during and after listening to selfselect favorite music, and the relation between EEG signals and anxiety-relieving during music listening. The results showed that the power of the β band in the right parietal area was significantly higher in those who were self-report able to relax during music listening compared with those who could not get relaxed. We observed power increased in the right parietal area of self-reports, not able to relax while music playing. Also, a significant difference in θ band power in the left frontal area and γ band in the right frontal area before and after music listening was observed between high anxiety group and low anxiety group. These results imply that β band activity in the left frontal area is associated with the anxiety-relieving capability of anxiety, which provides evidence for further elucidating the mechanism underlying anxiety-relieving during music listening.


关键词: anxiety| music| electroencephalogram (EEG)| β band| left frontal area

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