The next time you’re in a car, cruising along a winding road, why not play a cheerful song? It could be helpful for easing motion sickness.
A team of researchers, led by neuroscientist Yilun Li from China’s Henan Institute of Science and Technology, has discovered that music might actually be a surprisingly effective way to alleviate nausea and dizziness caused by travel—though it does depend on the type of music.
In their experiments, 30 participants used a driving simulator to induce feelings of carsickness while they wore an electroencephalograph (EEG) cap. This setup allowed the researchers to monitor the brain activity in real time, capturing the transition from feeling stable to feeling sick and then back again.
The participants were divided into six groups. Four groups listened to a minute of music after experiencing nausea; one group meditated instead, and another finished the driving simulation just before feeling carsick.
The findings indicated that upbeat music helped reduce symptoms of motion sickness by about 14% compared to the meditation group.
Soft music was also effective, alleviating symptoms by around 13.4% when compared to controls.
Interestingly, one genre of music actually made nausea worse than simply waiting for it to pass—sad music appeared to hinder recovery.
It’s tough to gauge the overall significance of these results because, well, the experiments were based on a small group of participants, which limits statistical power.
That said, these outcomes resonate with other studies demonstrating that music can greatly influence our feelings, both positively and negatively.
Previous research has found that a familiar tune can lessen symptoms of visually induced motion sickness or even “cybersickness” from virtual reality. It might even assist with hangovers if you pick the right songs.
Yet, while some studies suggest that sad music can enhance mood, it’s possible that in certain situations, it can do the opposite.
The EEG data from this study indicated a negative correlation between motion sickness and brain activity in the occipital region, which processes visual information.
The sicker a participant felt, the less complex their brain activity in this area appeared. Conversely, as they began to feel better, the EEG results showed increased variation in activity.
The researchers hypothesize that “Sad music may exacerbate discomfort through emotional resonance.”
In contrast, cheerful or soothing music could help participants maintain a better physical state, “thus enhancing the comfort of the occupants.”
So, it might be worth giving it a shot.
This study was published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
