byAlex Fisher

The Effect of Music on Human Heart Rate

Abstract

• Purpose to study the effect of music on human rate• Hypothesis – If rock music increases the heart rate in a human

then country music will decrease the heart rate in a human.• Five human subjects • Heart rate monitor used to measure heart rate of subjects• Each subject listened to first a rock song followed by a country

song• All subjects listened to same songs• Hypothesis proved correct on three out of five ,or sixty

percent, of subjects studied

Review of Literature • Other studies have shown that music causes a change in people’s

heart rate• In these studies, faster paced music increased heart rate• Slower paced music decreased the heart rate• Older people showed the greatest increase in heart rate of people

studied when listening to rock music• This was thought to be caused by being unaccustomed to listening to

this type of music• This experimentation important as music could be used to control

anxiety before surgery• Decreasing anxiety calms the patient and could increase chances of

success of surgeries especially those of the brain and nervous system

Question, Problem, and Hypothesis

• Research Question - Does music effect the heart rate of a human?

• Problem - Why does some music change our feelings, some music makes us tired and sleepy, while other music gets us pumped up? Is it because music effects our heart rate?

• Hypothesis - If rock music increases the heart rate in a human than country music will decrease heart the heart rate in a human.

Experimental design

• Materials - Heart rate monitor, Data sheet, Clipboard, Pen, Music listening device, Earphones

Procedure Set-up

• Five human subjects used• All subjects were male, fourteen or fifteen

years old• All testing done on January 9 in the same

location• Testing location provided a minimum of

distraction for the subjects

Subjects sat in a comfortable chair to provide a relaxed atmosphere.

Music

Rock Song – “Burn it to the Ground”, by Nickelback

Country Song – “The Most Beautiful Girl”, by Charlie Rich

Procedure

1. Take heart rate of subject before listening to music 2. Write down heart rate of subject 3. Subject places earphones in ears4. Play rock song5. Take heart rate after listening to rock song6. Write down heart rate of subject7. Play country song8. Take heart rate after listening to country song9. Write down heart rate of subject

Heart Rate

Monitor used for heart rate reset to zero before taking heart rate Taking the heart rate of a subject

Performing the study on one of the subjects.

Results Subject names Heart rate before

musicHeart rate after listening to rock

Heart rate after listening to country

Jon 59 56 64

John Eric 66 74 68

Gavin 103 93 92

Jeremie 114 115 108

Joe 74 78 68

This table shows heart rate before listening to any music after listening to rock music and after listening to country music

Study Results

Jon John Eric Gavin Jeremie Joe0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Heart rate before musicHeart rate after rockHeart rate after country

Conclusion

• Analysis of the data collected in this study showed that music does have an effect on the heart rate of humans

• In three out of the five or the majority of subjects studied, rock music increased heart rate and country music decreased heart rate

• Hypothesis that rock music increases the heart rate in a human and country music decreases the heart rate in a human is supported

Future Studies

• Expand research by increasing number of subjects

• Add the independent variable of age to provide data on the affect different types of music has on subjects depending on the age of the subject.

Acknowledgements• Thank you to the subjects for your time and assistance

– Jon Preuter, – John Eric Kelley – Jeremie Fischer, – Gavin Coble– Joe Harvey

• Thank you Mrs. Richards for your patience and assistance• Thank you Mom and Dad for for taking pictures, providing

assistance, and in general lots of support throughout this project

Bibliography• Chandrasekaran, Priyanka, Katie Bosworth, Matthew Williams, and Chris Feran. "Effect of

Music on heart rate." Effect of Music on heart rate. Google, 21 Oct. 2005. Web. 13 Dec. 2009.<http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/nsfall05/LabpacketArticles/EffectofMusiconheartrate.html>.

• Nickelback. “Burn It to the Ground.” From the album Darkhorse – 2008.• Rich, Charlie. “The Most Beautiful Girl.” Epic 11040, December 1973.• Turner, Art. "The Heart Effect: Startling News About Music And Your Health." Buzzle.

Buzzle, 28 Oct. 2005. Web. 15 Dec. 2009. <http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/10-18-2005-79203.asp>.

• The Effects of Music on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure." The Effects of Music on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure. Colorado university, Fall 2002. Web. 15 Dec. 2009. <http://spot.colorado.edu/~basey/jthorne.html>.

• The Effect of Music on Heart Rate." 123HelpMe.com. 15 Dec 2009 <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=121433>.

• "Neroscience for Kids." Washington education. Washington education, 31 July 2001. Web. 10 Nov. 2009. <http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/surgm.html>