Running Head: Music and its Effects on R.E.M.

Sleep

Music and its Various Effects on R.E.M. Sleep

Anthony Johnson

Sinclair Community College

Music and its Effects on R.E.M. Sleep

Abstract
This particular studys objective is to observe and document
the effects of various musical genres on the human brain while in
Rapid Eye Movement sleep. Subjects selected at random will be
tested with three different genres of music during R.E.M. sleep,
with a control group that will have no music administered to them
during R.E.M. sleep. This study will be used to help increase
knowledge in the area of Music Therapy for patients suffering
from PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and other mental or
emotional problems.

Music and its Effects on R.E.M. Sleep

Introduction
This study takes a closer look at the effects of music on
the human brain in a particular area of measurement that seems to
have been consistently overlooked in previous studies.
We already know that music affects us whether we are
listening or not. However, no one has seen or recorded effects of
music on an unconscious, or uninhibited, mind. While most past
studies have looked at how music affected sleeping patterns by
playing classical music before the test subjects were allowed to
sleep, there were none that showed the effects of music during
the deeper restful sleep periods.

It is apparent that research

is needed to ascertain the possibility that different genres

could indeed have distinguishable, measureable, and perhaps even
lasting effects on the unconscious mind as they are being applied
during sleep.

We hope that this study will benefit our understanding in

how strongly music effects people. We propose experiments with
randomly chosen test subjects to see if different genres of music
would have specific, measureable effects on the subjects while
unconscious; and whether these effects can, over time,improve the
subjects quality of life

By applying what we learn, it is hoped

that we can then use this gained knowledge to create effective

Music and its Effects on R.E.M. Sleep

forms of music therapy to be used in achieving increased mental

wellness.

Literature Review

Researchers have long known that music generally has a

significant effect on the human brain, both waking and sleeping.
In the waking mode, music has the ability to control our very
actions. Consider the background music played in restaurants,
ranging from upbeat and fast paced songs during the lunch rush,
to quiet and slow paced songs played during slower parts of the
day. And though many studies and experiments have been done with
music played to people in the waking state, there appears to be
little to no records of tests with music played during the deep
sleeping statewhich begs the RQ1: What effects, if any, does
music have on the unconscious or sleeping person?
It is apparent in several studies, such as the research done
by Lszl Harmat, Johanna Takcs, and Rbert Bdizs (where, for
example, patients suffering from insomnia were exposed to 45
minutes of classical music) that music was either played for the
subjects BEFORE or AFTER R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep, but
never DURING. Consequently, even though these studies revealed
significant improvements in sleep patterns and levels of restful
sleep, they did not address the question of musics effects

Music and its Effects on R.E.M. Sleep

DURING sleep, or whether there are lasting effects later during

waking.
In contrast to music sleep study results, music heard while
awake has always proved to have a great effect on subjects
behaviors and attitudes. Oliver Sacks writes in his book
Musicophillia, events in which he was affected by music.

He

observed that during the day following a night of sleep that

followed a pre-sleep music session, Mr. Sacks found himself
highly agitated and anxious. Again, the music was not played
during sleep, and the musics effects were observed during the
following days waking hours.
And so, we observe that all researchers seem to agree that
1) any music heard at any time affects behavior, whether the
subject is actively listening or not; that 2) classical music
played for a subject before sleep produces a better quality of
REM sleep and a longer, more restful sleep experience; and that
3) resulting behaviors can be exhibited long after waking from
music played prior to slumber. There seems to be no disagreement
on these points.
However, a misconception that for many years was commonly
held in this research area, was that white noise or Nature
sounds or hard rock, etc., are just as good at sleep enhancement
as classical music; i.e., that any noise/any type of music
produced better sleep results.

This misconception was uncovered

Music and its Effects on R.E.M. Sleep

in the JAN research study, wherein a third group (outside the

control group [no sound]; and the classical music group)
listened to audio-books for 45 minutes before going to sleep. It
was found that this group showed no significant improvement in
sleep quality (REM or otherwise) over the control group; almost
as though the subjects had received no treatment at all.
Consequently, when all tests are considered, it becomes
obvious that much more research is called for; and that such
research should focus upon the effects of various types of sound
while the subject is asleep; specifically measuring brain
activity during the sleeping state, and while under the influence
of various types of music.

Methods
The study will involve experimentation with three different
types of music genres: Classical, Jazz, and Marching. The test
subjects will be chosen at random, using a total of 100 persons.
There will be 4 main groups. Group One will be the control group,
i.e., with no music played during R.E.M. sleep. Group Two will be
the Classical Music group, who will have classical music
(Mozart Specifically) played for 45 minutes during the R.E.M.
sleep period. Group Three will be the Jazz Music group which
will have various jazz numbers played for them for 45 minutes
during the R.E.M. sleep period. Finally, Group Four will be the

Music and its Effects on R.E.M. Sleep

Marching Music group which will have various marching songs

played for 45 minutes during the R.E.M. sleep period. During the
course of these tests, we will be monitoring brainwave activity
to record all changes and effects while the various music types
are being played.

Results
We will collect the brainwave activity data from the
experiment to compare each singular test subjects results with
each others to see if there was any measurable and/or
distinguishable, immediate effects on the all test subjects in
their particular group.

These results will then provide the

information necessary to apply appropriately for treating

subjects with music therapy over an extended period to achieve
wanted resulting improvement in behavior or emotional health.
Discussion
The general knowledge of musics effects has been known
throughout the ages. However, it is my belief that there is still
more to be discovered scientifically in the area of music. And
though while it may only benefit medical uses such as musical
therapy, it does not follow logic to think that something that we
are exposed to almost every single day of our lives, is still so
nebulous and unclear on the scientific aspect of music.
have heard the iconic phrase Without Music life would B

Many

Music and its Effects on R.E.M. Sleep

(flat). We acknowledge that music is an important aspect of

human life. If music is this important, I believe that this study
shall benefit all who use music in their daily lives by helping
to explain in the written word, something that that speaks
volumes when our own words fail.