For centuries, music has been a balm for the soul — and, it turns out, for the body as well. From ancient healing rituals to modern therapy sessions, melodies have long been used to soothe pain. But where does the secret to music’s pain-relieving power lie? Could it be not just in the notes themselves, but in their tempo?
A team of researchers at McGill University has discovered that music is most effective at reducing pain when it matches a person’s natural rhythm. This internal tempo is where a person feels most comfortable performing rhythmic activities, such as speaking, walking, tapping, or even playing music. It’s the pace that feels most intuitive and effortless to them, almost like a personal metronome ticking away in their brain.
This finding could pave the way for personalized music therapies that help patients manage pain more effectively.
The Tempo of Relief
The study, led by Mathieu Roy and Caroline Palmer, set out to explore how specific aspects of music influence its ability to alleviate pain. While previous research suggested that calming or relaxing music works best, the McGill team wanted to dig deeper. “We wanted to investigate whether tempo — the speed of a musical piece — plays a role in pain relief,” explained Palmer, a cognitive neuroscientist.
To test this, the researchers recruited 60 participants, both musicians and non-musicians, and subjected them to mild heat-induced pain. Each participant’s natural rhythm, or spontaneous production rate (SPR), was determined by having them tap out the rhythm of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” at a comfortable pace. This tempo became the baseline for the experiment.
Participants then listened to unfamiliar melodies played at three different tempos: their natural rhythm, 15% faster, or 15% slower. During the sessions, they experienced short bursts of heat on their forearms, alternating between silence and music. After each round, they rated their pain levels.
While music at any tempo reduced pain compared to silence, the greatest relief came when the tempo matched the participant’s natural rhythm. “It’s not just about listening to music — it’s about listening to music that resonates with your internal beat,” said Roy.
Why Your Rhythm Matters
So, why does matching music to our natural tempo work so well? The answer may lie in the brain. Each of us has a unique internal rhythm, tied to our circadian cycles and neural oscillations. When music aligns with this rhythm, it may help divert neural activity away from pain-processing frequencies.
“The neural oscillations that drive our preferred tempo are more easily pulled along when the music matches our natural rhythm,” Roy explained. “This could pull attention away from the neural frequencies associated with pain.”
The findings build on a growing body of research exploring how music affects the brain. From reducing stress to improving motor function in Parkinson’s patients, music’s therapeutic potential is vast. A 2023 study found that certain melodies can have an analgesic-like effect; surprisingly, “bitter-sweet” melodies worked best. Yet, as Roy noted, “there have been very few studies that really look at specific parameters of music to understand its effects on the brain.”
The McGill team’s work is far from over. Next, they plan to use electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity and confirm whether neural firing synchronizes with external musical tempos. They also hope to test their findings on individuals with chronic pain or those undergoing medical procedures.
The implications are significant. If music tailored to an individual’s natural rhythm can reliably reduce pain, it could offer a non-invasive, drug-free alternative for pain management. Imagine a future where patients can use an app to adjust their favorite songs to their internal tempo, creating a personalized pain-relief playlist.
As Palmer put it, “Music isn’t just a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about finding the right beat for each person.”
The findings appeared in the journal Pain.
