The Healing Power of Sad Songs: Backed by Science

Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter to receive a weekly roundup on living well, simplified. Discover information and tools aimed at enhancing your well-being. Adele's iconic 2011 single "Someone Like You" struck a chord with millions around the globe, remaining a beloved tune even after more than a decade. Artists like Adele excel at creating poignant and soul-stirring music that helps us navigate the emotional turmoil of heartbreak and grief.

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Undoubtedly, music possesses the power to calm and comfort the soul. Surprisingly, it can also provide temporary relief from physical pain. A recent study, published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research, has revealed that listening to favorite songs can significantly diminish individuals' perception of pain. Interestingly, sad songs that recount bittersweet and emotional experiences were found to be the most potent pain relievers.

Patrick Stroman, a professor of biomedical and molecular sciences at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, stated that while music cannot replace Tylenol for headaches, it can help alleviate some discomfort. He clarified that unlike medication, there are no adverse effects or risks associated with listening to music, as long as the volume is kept reasonable.

In a small study, 63 young adults were asked to choose two of their favorite songs. The only requirement was that the songs had to be a minimum of 3 minutes and 20 seconds long. One song represented their all-time favorite, while the other was the song they would bring if stranded on a desert island. The researchers also provided a selection of seven unfamiliar and relaxing songs from which the participants could choose. These songs were named "Cotton Blues," "Jamaicare," "Légende Celtique," "Musique de Film," "Nuit Cubaine," "Reggae Calédonien," and "Sega Mizik Kèr."

Participants were asked to gaze at a monitor screen for 7-minute intervals while being exposed to their preferred music, one of seven soothing instrumental songs (each lasting 6 minutes and 40 seconds), or a disordered combination of both songs and the chosen relaxing melody. The disordered music consisted of a chaotic arrangement of all three songs, fragmented and rearranged at random to eliminate their original structure. Additionally, one 7-minute interval required participants to remain in silence. Simultaneously, the researchers applied a heated object, similar to the sensation of placing a scorching hot teacup on one's skin, to the inner left forearms of the participants.

When evaluating their experiences, individuals were more inclined to express a decreased sensation of pain when listening to their preferred songs in comparison to hearing an unfamiliar soothing melody or silence. The jumbled compositions also failed to alleviate pain, leading the authors to propose that music serves a purpose beyond merely diverting attention from an unpleasant encounter.

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With a wide range of songs to choose from, everyone has their own personal favorite. In a study conducted, participants were interviewed about the song they selected and their perception of pain. Surprisingly, the researchers discovered that individuals who listened to poignant and emotionally charged songs experienced less pain compared to those who listened to calming or cheerful tunes.

according to Darius Valevicius, a neuroscience doctoral student at the University of Montreal. He believes that this intriguing phenomenon of experiencing chills or goosebumps while listening to bittersweet, melancholic, or spiritual music is something that resonates with a multitude of individuals. Furthermore, it is suggested that such music has the potential to alter the perception of pain.

People who listened to bittersweet songs also reported experiencing more chills - the thrilling and shivering sensation on their skin induced by pleasurable music. This sensation appeared to be linked to a decrease in the unpleasantness of the burning pain they experienced during the experiment. Although not extensively explored in this study, Valevicius suggested that these musical chills may be responsible for the pain-blocking effects.

While chills were not the focus of this study, Valevicius hypothesized that these sensations could be indicative of sensory gating. This phenomenon occurs when the brain filters out stimuli that it considers redundant or irrelevant in order to prevent overwhelming the individual. In this case, it is possible that the brain is tuning into the music and filtering out certain pain signals. Although the body still experiences the pain, the messages that would typically lead to conscious perception of the pain may not be relayed.

Scientists have transformed spiderwebs into music, resulting in a nightmarish sound. According to Stroman, listening to music triggers the brain's natural pain regulation system. By tapping into emotions and feelings, our bodies can determine the significance of pain in the present moment. Recently, Stroman and his team used brain imaging to study how music affects the central nervous system when individuals experience pain. Through their research, they discovered that music alters brain connectivity in various regions associated with pain, memory, and subjective emotional experiences.

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According to him, when individuals listen to music they enjoy, it can alleviate their pain by 10% based on our measurements. However, Stroman warns that relying on music alone is not sufficient to replace medication or medical assistance.

Nonetheless, there is no harm in selecting a more lively song if that is your preference. In addition to pain reduction, music offers several other health advantages such as stress relief and promoting better sleep. Embracing this remedy, Valevicius admitted, "I have certainly allowed myself to indulge a bit more in listening to music."

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira is a New York-based freelance health and science journalist.