Studies + Sources

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Chronic pain, anxiety, and stress often share one thread: a nervous system stuck on “alert.” Sound may help shift it toward “rest and relax.”

  • "Nociplastic" pain comes from a sensitized nervous system, not tissue damage. It often comes with poor sleep, fatigue, and mood problems, and responds less to drugs or surgery.

    Fitzcharles et al. (2021) — The Lancet — PubMed

  • People with nociplastic pain are often more sensitive to non-painful input like light, smells, and noise. Changes in brain function may help drive it.

    Kaplan et al. (2024) — Nature Reviews Neurology — PubMed

  • Pain Reprocessing Therapy, which teaches the brain to see pain signals as safe, reduced chronic back pain far more than placebo or usual care.

    Ashar et al. (2022) — JAMA Psychiatry — PubMed

  • People with chronic pain showed lower heart rate variability, a sign of reduced parasympathetic ("rest and relax") activity. The effect was strongest in fibromyalgia.

    Tracy et al. (2016) — Pain — PubMed

  • Across studies, chronic musculoskeletal pain was consistently linked to reduced vagus nerve activity.

    Fernández-Morales et al. (2026) — Pain — PubMed

  • Dysfunction in the body's stress systems (the autonomic nervous system and HPA axis) was linked to heightened pain sensitivity in chronic primary pain.

    Vyverman et al. (2026) — Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews — PubMed

  • A review of 99 studies found people with anxiety disorders had lower resting heart rate variability, a sign of reduced "rest and relax" activity.

    Cheng et al. (2022) — Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences — PubMed

  • Higher heart rate variability was linked to better self-regulation of emotions, thinking, and behavior.

    Holzman & Bridgett (2017) — Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews — PubMed

  • A review of 24 randomized trials found music increased "rest and relax" heart rate variability. Gains were largest in people with stress, anxiety, or sleep problems.

    Zhang et al. (2026) — Frontiers in Psychology — PubMed

  • Vibroacoustic stimulation increased parasympathetic activity, and brainwave readings showed less arousal and more relaxation.

    Fooks & Niebuhr (2024) — Sensors — PubMed

  • In a pilot randomized trial, vibroacoustic therapy improved heart rate variability in university students under acute stress.

    Kantor et al. (2022) — Frontiers in Psychology — PubMed

  • A review exploring the possible ways sound vibration may affect human health and the body's systems.

    Bartel & Mosabbir (2021) — Healthcare — PubMed

  • A review of 15 studies found binaural beats reduced anxiety before and after surgery and eased post-surgery pain.

    Xiong et al. (2025) — Complementary Therapies in Medicine — PubMed

  • Music with binaural beats reduced anxiety and improved comfort in patients having an endoscopy without sedation.

    Demirci & Sezer (2024) — Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine — PubMed

  • A review found music and binaural beat programs improved anxiety, sleep, mood, or focus in young adults. Studies were small, so more research is needed.

    Elnazer (2026) — Acta Neuropsychiatrica — PubMed

  • A review found singing bowl sound meditation may reduce tension, anxiety, and low mood, and support calmer heart rate and blood pressure.

    Seetharaman et al. (2024) — EXPLORE — PubMed

  • A systematic review linked Tibetan singing bowl sessions to reduced stress, lower heart rate, and better psychological well-being.

    Lin et al. (2025) — Healthcare — PubMed

  • A Cochrane review of 13 studies found listening to music may improve sleep quality in adults with insomnia symptoms.

    Jespersen et al. (2022) — Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — PubMed

  • Vibroacoustic stimulation improved sleep time and insomnia scores, and changed connections in the brain.

    Zabrecky et al. (2020) — Sleep Disorders — PubMed

  • A meta-analysis found music listening had a moderate effect on sleep quality in adults with mental health conditions.

    Zhao et al. (2024) — European Psychiatry — PubMed

  • A meta-analysis of 10 studies found music therapy significantly improved sleep quality in older adults.

    Li et al. (2025) — PLOS ONE — PubMed

  • Older adults who listened to binaural beat music had better sleep quality and less "fight or flight" activity than a control group.

    Lin et al. (2024) — Geriatrics & Gerontology International — PubMed

  • A meta-analysis found binaural beats had a near-moderate effect on memory and attention, though results varied.

    Basu & Banerjee (2023) — Psychological Research — PubMed

  • In people with mild Alzheimer's, 3 months of daily 40 Hz light and sound stimulation was linked to better memory recall and less brain shrinkage.

    Chan et al. (2022) — PLOS ONE — PubMed

  • 40 Hz rhythmic sensory stimulation improved cognitive scores in people with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease.

    Clements-Cortes et al. (2016) — Journal of Alzheimer's Disease — PubMed

  • Tibetan sound meditation was linked to short-term gains in memory, thinking, and mental health in breast cancer survivors.

    Milbury et al. (2013) — Psycho-Oncology — PubMed

  • Vibroacoustic therapy was well accepted by autistic children, who reported feeling calm. Results suggest benefits for attention and emotion regulation.

    Moore et al. (2025) — Healthcare — PubMed

  • Vibroacoustic stimulation from a body monochord improved mood and lowered skin conductance, a marker of stress arousal.

    Sandler et al. (2017) — PLOS ONE — PubMed

  • In a pilot study, rhythmic sound and vibration stimulation was linked to fewer depression symptoms and shifts in brainwave patterns.

    Mosabbir et al. (2022) — Cureus — PubMed

  • Added to usual care, low-frequency music vibration reduced depression symptoms more than usual care alone, with no side effects.

    Sigurdardóttir et al. (2019) — Brain and Behavior — PubMed

  • A scoping review of 20 studies on vibroacoustic therapy for pain. Most used 40 Hz, with 20 to 45 minute sessions.

    Kantor et al. (2022) — BMJ Open — PubMed

  • A review found music, sound, and vibroacoustic therapy have value as add-ons for acute and chronic pain, partly by activating the body's own pain-calming systems.

    Song et al. (2026) — Frontiers in Neuroscience — PubMed

  • A meta-analysis of 7 trials found music therapy lowered pain and depression scores in people with fibromyalgia.

    Wang et al. (2020) — EXPLORE — PubMed

  • People with fibromyalgia had less pain, better sleep, and lower depression after gamma-frequency vibroacoustic stimulation. Both study groups improved.

    Braun Janzen et al. (2019) — PLOS ONE — PubMed

  • A meta-analysis linked theta binaural beats to reduced pain, with signs of less anxiety. Evidence certainty was low.

    Fatima et al. (2026) — EXPLORE — PubMed

  • A systematic review found alpha binaural beats may help reduce acute pain. More quality studies are needed for chronic pain.

    Shamsi et al. (2024) — BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies — PubMed

  • In a small trial, alpha-frequency sound or light stimulation before sleep improved self-reported pain and sleep in fibromyalgia compared to a sham.

    Halpin et al. (2025) — The Journal of Pain — PubMed

  • Vibration therapy reduced rigidity and tremor and increased step length in people with Parkinson's disease.

    King et al. (2009) — NeuroRehabilitation — PubMed

  • In a placebo-controlled trial, 12 weeks of 40 Hz physioacoustic vibration improved tremor, rigidity, posture, and gait in Parkinson's.

    Mosabbir et al. (2020) — Healthcare — PubMed

  • A review of 49 studies found 78% reported improvements in gait, balance, or motor scores with vibration in Parkinson's.

    Tiell & Davis (2025) — Clinical Biomechanics — PubMed

  • A review of how rhythmic sound and vibroacoustic therapy may improve gait and tremor in Parkinson's.

    Leuk et al. (2020) — Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience — PubMed

  • Rhythmic auditory stimulation improved some walking measures in people with Parkinson's disease.

    Arias & Cudeiro (2008) — Experimental Brain Research — PubMed

  • After singing bowl sound meditation, participants reported less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood.

    Goldsby et al. (2017) — Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine — PubMed

  • A singing bowl sound massage lowered heart rate and shifted brainwaves toward a more mindful, meditative state.

    Walter & Hinterberger (2022) — Medicina — PubMed

  • Vibroacoustic relaxation with a body monochord increased theta brainwaves, linked to a flow-like sense of letting go.

    Sandler et al. (2016) — Brain Topography — PubMed

  • OM chanting meditation increased theta brainwave activity, a sign of deep relaxation.

    Harne & Hiwale (2018) — Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback — PubMed

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