Music therapy as pain control in ICU burn patients: Short-term analysis of ECG, EEG and EMG signals

Abstract

Music therapy, a holistic non-pharmacological intervention, holds promise for alleviating stress, anxiety, depression, and pain perception in burn patients, supporting their healing, recovery, and overall well-being. However, limited research exists on the electrophysiological effects of music therapy in addressing pain and other physical and mental health implications in this population. This study investigated the impact of music therapy on electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electromyogram (EMG) signals in eight adult participants across two different Music-Assisted Relaxation sessions. Visual Analogue scale revealed a decrease in pain perception following the intervention. Furthermore, the results indicate significant modulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and attentional and cognitive processes by music therapy. These effects are attributed to the interplay of two mechanisms: the sensorial-attentional mechanism facilitated by music stimuli and the cognitive-relaxation mechanism inducing physiological state changes. This research enhances our understanding of the therapeutic potential of music therapy for burn patients and sets the stage for further investigations in this field.