Stress is one of the biggest problems in the modern era. And humans generate it while trying to escape it. Since the earliest ages of our history, humans have always escaped stress. And music has always been a great ally.
An experiment based on puzzles and music
A group of neuroscientists wanted to investigate the relationship between music and escape routes from stress. The attendees to the experiment had to solve highly difficult puzzles in a limited – and not very long – period of time while being connected to sensors that measured the brain activity, psychological states and how these affected heart rate and blood pressure.
Each of the participants listened to a different song in their headphones as they tried to solve their puzzle.
What is the most relaxing track in the world?
Dr David Lewis-Hodgson of Mindlab International led the research. He said that the winning track produced a greater state of relaxation than any other music tested to date.
The winning song was “Weightless” by Marconi Union. Attendees who listened to this track saw their overall anxiety percentages reduced by 65%. The result is impressive.
Dr Lewis-Hodgson also had no doubts: “I noticed several women who had listened to this song and I had to advise them not to drive the car in the hours after the experiment, as I saw them numb and even dazed.”
Marconi Union achieved their goal
What if “Weightless” was designed for this? Well, indeed, it was. Marconi Union produced “Weightless” in collaboration with sound therapists. Their carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms and bass lines help to lower the listener’s heart rate, lower their blood pressure and decrease the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
In the world of the 21st century, stress is one of the greatest endemic problems faced by our society. A Harvard and Stanford study found that health problems resulting from workplace stress cause, on average, more deaths than diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease. Our advice: avoid stress, forget about e-mail and, of course, press the play button. Ah! And avoid driving.
The 10 most relaxing tracks in the world
10. Rue du Soleil – We Can Fly
9. Mozart – Canzonetta Sull’aria
8. Adele – Someone Like You
7. All Saints – Pure Shores
6. Barcelona – Please Don’t Go
5. Coldplay – Strawberry Swing
4. Enya – Watermark
3. DJ Shah – Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix)
2. Airstream – Electra
1. Marconi Union – Weightless
(Cover Image: © Riccardo Bresciani on Pexels)