Effects of Music on Human Health and Wellness: Physiological Measurements and Research Design

This article suggests some possible ways to approach the rather daunting task of researching music-spirit-mindbody-health interactions, which occur both within individual experiences and within a matrix of shared cultural values and meanings. It attempts to find a coherent path along which to investigate the interconnections of music's influences within and among physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual domains. Its purpose is to offer a broad overview of issues relevant to physiological measurements and research design in music medicine research, with an emphasis on approaches, which focus on stress systems. It gives a detailed account of historical problems in the research literature, methodological issues, and promising lines of research, as well as possible new areas for research development.