As part of a scientific experiment, specialists studied the reactions of 30 volunteers. Participants were placed in a special car simulator that provoked symptoms of motion sickness. When a person began to feel discomfort, they were played music compositions of different styles for one minute. The control groups either simply rested in silence or stopped participating in the test.
Analysis of the results showed varying effectiveness of musical genres. The best result was demonstrated by cheerful and joyful music, which reduced the manifestation of motion sickness symptoms by 57%. Soft and calm melodies had almost the same effect, at 56%. Passionate music was slightly less effective, at 48%. For comparison, ordinary rest without listening to music alleviated the condition by 43%, and sad tracks showed the least effectiveness, at only 40%.
Scientists also recorded changes at the physiological level. It was found that motion sickness causes a disturbance in the activity of the occipital cortex of the brain. Listening to appropriate music helped restore brain activity to normal levels.
The authors of the study, published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, believe that their discovery could help many people. Playing lively or calm melodies while traveling is a simple and safe method of combating motion sickness that is accessible to everyone.
Earlier, a laboratory for the study of ethnic music was launched at the Arctic Institute.