Music and Autonomic Nervous System (Dys)function

Abstract

Despite a wealth of evidence for the involvement of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in health and disease and the ability of music to affect ANS activity, few studies have systematically explored the therapeutic effects of music on ANS dysfunction. Furthermore, when ANS activity is quantified and analyzed, it is usually from a point of convenience rather than from an understanding of its physiological basis. After a review of the experimental and therapeutic literatures exploring music and the ANS, a "Neurovisceral Integration" perspective on the interplay between the central and autonomic nervous systems is introduced, and the associated implications for physiological, emotional, and cognitive health are explored. The construct of heart rate variability is discussed both as an example of this complex interplay and as a useful metric for exploring the sometimes subtle effect of music on autonomic response. Suggestions for future investigations using musical interventions are offered based on this integrative account.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neural structures involved in the control of heart rate

Note: Adapted from Benarroch (1993), Berntson et al. (1998), Berthoud and Neuhuber (2000), Gianaros (2008), Loewy (1990), Thayer and Lane (2009), and Verberne and Owens (1998). Solid black arrows indicate efferent pathways to the heart, including right vagus nerve (PNS) and stellate ganglion (SNS) inputs to the SA node. Dotted gray arrows indicate afferent pathways to medullary structures via aortic baroreceptor signals carried through the vagus. Dashed black arrows indicate bidirectional connections. AMB: nucleus ambiguus; BF: basal forebrain; BLA: basolateral amygdala; CeA: central nucleus of the amygdala; CVLM: caudal ventrolateral medullary neurons; DVMN: dorsal vagal motor nuclei; Hyp: hypothalamus (lateral and paraventricular); IML: intermediolateral cell column of the spinal cord LC: locus coeruleus; NTS: nucleus of the solitary tract; PAG: periaqueductal gray; PBN: parabrachial nucluei; PFC: prefrontal cortex; PGi: nucleus paragigantocellularis; RVLM: rostral ventrolateral medullary neurons. Heart graphic (http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/File:Heartgraphic.svg) used under the GNU Free Documentation License.