An Exploration of Physiological Responses to the Native American Flute

This pilot study explored physiological responses to playing and listening to the Native American flute. Autonomic, electroencephalographic (EEG), and heart rate variability (HRV) metrics were recorded while participants (N = 15) played flutes and listened to several styles of music. Flute playing w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Miller, Eric B, Goss, Clinton F
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 24.01.2014
Subjects
Anxiety
Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Electroencephalography
Heart rate
Hypertension
Mental disorders
Music therapy
Physiological responses
Physiology
Post traumatic stress disorder
Psychological stress
Therapy
World music
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Summary:This pilot study explored physiological responses to playing and listening to the Native American flute. Autonomic, electroencephalographic (EEG), and heart rate variability (HRV) metrics were recorded while participants (N = 15) played flutes and listened to several styles of music. Flute playing was accompanied by an 84% increase in HRV (p < .001). EEG theta (4-8 Hz) activity increased while playing flutes (p = .007) and alpha (8-12 Hz) increased while playing lower-pitched flutes (p = .009). Increase in alpha from baseline to the flute playing conditions strongly correlated with experience playing Native American flutes (r = +.700). Wide-band beta (12-25 Hz) decreased from the silence conditions when listening to solo Native American flute music (p = .013). The findings of increased HRV, increasing slow-wave rhythms, and decreased beta support the hypothesis that Native American flutes, particularly those with lower pitches, may have a role in music therapy contexts. We conclude that the Native American flute may merit a more prominent role in music therapy and that a study of the effects of flute playing on clinical conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, anxiety, and major depressive disorder, is warranted.
ISSN:2331-8422