A new study published in the journal Music and Medicine reveals that intraoperative music therapy can significantly lower the dosage of propofol and fentanyl required during laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed under general anesthesia. Patients exposed to therapeutic music also experienced smoother awakenings and reduced physiological stress, as indicated by lower perioperative cortisol levels.
Music as a Therapeutic Tool in Anesthesia
“This is more than just background music—it represents an innovative integration of music into anesthetic practice,” explained Dr. Tanvi Goel, principal investigator and anesthesiologist at Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi.
She emphasized that music therapy actively engages the nervous system, even when patients are under anesthesia. By doing so, it helps dampen the neuroendocrine stress response, a critical factor when the body is most vulnerable during surgery.
Engaging the Nervous System Under Anesthesia
Co-investigator Dr. Farah Husain, a certified music therapist, highlighted that delivering music during surgery directly influences the patient’s nervous system, promoting stability and reducing stress-related responses. “By using sound therapeutically, we are reaching the brain in a non-invasive yet powerful way,” she said.
The Overlooked Role of Sound in the Operating Room
According to Dr. Sonia Wadhawan, Director Professor of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at Maulana Azad Medical College, the auditory environment under anesthesia is often ignored. “Sound, when delivered with therapeutic intent, can enhance healing, reduce stress, and improve recovery in measurable ways. We are only beginning to understand its potential,” she noted.
Strengthening Evidence for Music’s Neural Benefits
International experts echoed these findings. Dr. Wendy L. Magee, Professor of Music Therapy at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, commented that this study strengthens existing evidence linking music’s neural effects to behavioral benefits.
“For patients with disorders of consciousness following brain injury, patient-preferred music enhances arousal and cognition,” Dr. Magee explained. “This research reinforces that music with personal meaning intensifies emotional engagement, maximizing its therapeutic impact.”
The Road Ahead: Understanding Music’s Mechanisms
As reported by medicalxpress, Dr. Joseph J. Schlesinger, Professor of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, Hearing & Speech Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, urged further exploration. “This study demonstrates the real potential of music to improve anesthetic care, but we must delve deeper,” he said.
“To truly understand how music affects the brain during surgery, we need multimodal EEG studies and a broader perspective on the perioperative sound environment—one that considers both patient outcomes and provider safety.”
A Symphony of Science and Healing
Overall, this research underscores how music therapy, when scientifically integrated into anesthesia, can become a powerful ally in modern medicine. By harmonizing art and science, intraoperative music therapy offers a new way to reduce drug dependency, ease stress, and accelerate recovery—transforming the surgical experience for patients and clinicians alike.