Effects of Tibetan Music on Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Functions in Patients Waiting for Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of listening to Tibetan music on anxiety and endocrine, autonomic, cognitive responses in patients waiting for urologic surgery.Methods. Sixty patients waiting for surgery were enrolled to the study. They were randomized in music (M) and control (C) groups. The M group listened to a low-frequency Tibetan music for 30 min (T₀–T₃₀) through headphones, and the C group wore headphones with no sound. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (STAI) Y-1 was administered at T₀and T₃₀. Normalized low (LFnu) and high frequencies (HFnu) of heart rate variability, LF/HF ratio, and galvanic skin response (GRS) data were analyzed at T₀, T₁₀, T₂₀, T₃₀, and T₃₅. The salivaryα-amylase (sAA) samples were collected at T₀, T₃₅, and T₄₅.Results. In the M group, the STAI Y-1 score decreased at T₃₀versus baselinep<0.001, sAA levels decreased at T₃₅versus T₀p=0.004, and GSR remained unchanged. In the C group, the STAI Y-1 score remained unchanged, sAA level increased at T₃₅versus T₀p<0.001, and GSR slightly increased at T₃₅versus baselinep=0.359. LFnu was lower, and HFnu was significantly higher (T₁₀–T₃₀) in M versus C group. Mean LF/HF ratio slightly reduced in the M group.Conclusions. Our results suggest that preoperative listening to relaxing Tibetan music might be a useful strategy to manage preoperative anxiety.