The effect of music and vagus nerve to improve various Diseases

Abstract

Human body has energy which determines you are sick, tired, bored, excited and angry or not. According to Physics music is placed in energy spectrum as one part of sounds and volumes, which can affect our body energy. On the other side the rhythmical and compositionality feature of music reinforces this consequence, due to these features, music is more populare than the other hobbies. We often use music in our daily lives, for example, from ringing the doorbell to using the phone or waiting in the elevator to reach the desired floor and etc. it is one common and available supplementary that human can use it for treating different diseases. The music plays an important role in activation of parasympathetic part via the vagus nerve stimulation. The vagus nerve is a tenth nerve of twelve cerebral nerves. The tenth nerve is one of the most important nerves which originates from the brain and is responsible for innervating face, thorax, abdomen and etc. It is a motor sensory nerve. The vagus nerve is also involved in the parasympathetic system. This nerve has two sensory ganglia that transmit sensory impulses: the superior and the inferior ganglia, by which we can affect parasympathetic Nervous System for improvement. Generally these ganglions innervates different part of body such as: ear (where the most stimulations happen in this place), larynx, heart, pulmonary system, abdomen and abdominal viscera. Because of this innervation vagus nerve stimulation can change the activity of pulmonary system, heart, abdomen, intestine and etc. The music stimulates the vagus receptors of the ear. The goal of this article is review the music effects on vagus nerve for treating some diseases such as gut problems, mental health disorders, heart problems, epilepsy, seizures and etc. Finally, since music is always accessible and the human body utilizes it on a daily basis, we can use music as a complementary method in occupational therapy. Keywords: Music therapy, Vagus nerve stimulation, Occupational therapy, complementary therapy.

Full text

DOI: https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs211561854
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
P J M H S Vol. 15, NO. 6, JUN 2021 1854
The effect of music and vagus nerve to improve various Diseases
ATIYEH SADAT HASANI HELM1, MAHDI RAMEZANI2*
1Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Hamadan university of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IRAN.
2 Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Hamadan university of Medical Sciences, Hamadan , IRAN.
* Corresponding Author at : Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine , Hamadan university of Medical Sciences , Hamadan , IRAN.
Email:m.ramezani@umsha.ac.ir
ABSTRACT
Human body has energy which determines you are sick, tired, bored, excited and angry or not. According to
Physics music is placed in energy spectrum as one part of sounds and volumes, which can affect our body
energy. On the other side the rhythmical and compositionality feature of music reinforces this consequence, due
to these features, music is more populare than the other hobbies. We often use music in our daily lives, for
example, from ringing the doorbell to using the phone or waiting in the elevator to reach the desired floor and etc.
it is one common and available supplementary that human can use it for treating different diseases. The music
plays an important role in activation of parasympathetic part via the vagus nerve stimulation. The vagus nerve is a
tenth nerve of twelve cerebral nerves. The tenth nerve is one of the most important nerves which originates from
the brain and is responsible for innervating face, thorax, abdomen and etc. It is a motor sensory nerve. The vagus
nerve is also involved in the parasympathetic system. This nerve has two sensory ganglia that transmit sensory
impulses: the superior and the inferior ganglia, by which we can affect parasympathetic Nervous System for
improvement. Generally these ganglions innervates different part of body such as: ear (where the most
stimulations happen in this place), larynx, heart, pulmonary system, abdomen and abdominal viscera. Because of
this innervation vagus nerve stimulation can change the activity of pulmonary system, heart, abdomen, intestine
and etc. The music stimulates the vagus receptors of the ear.
The goal of this article is review the music effects on vagus nerve for treating some diseases such as gut
problems, mental health disorders, heart problems, epilepsy, seizures and etc. Finally, since music is always
accessible and the human body utilizes it on a daily basis, we can use music as a complementary method in
occupational therapy.
Keywords: Music therapy, Vagus nerve stimulation, Occupational therapy, complementary therapy.
INTRODUCTION
Music Is an organized combination which is different in
some items with sound such as: intensity, rhythm, and
pitch[1]. Music can change our emotions, thought and
feelings[2]. Muic is used in different areas as follows:
1- Patient with orthopedic surgery, some positive effects
such as reducing nausea, anxiety and pain and improving
mood on people who have had orthopedic surgery through
receiving their Music Therapy (MT) sessions [3].
2-Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD), ASD is an umbrella
term for several disorders such as: autism, asperger,
pervasive developmental disorder, disintegrative disorder
which are brain and developmental disorders and related to
society and communication difficulties[4], music improves
ASD's skills, like: initiating behavior, social interaction,
verbal and nonverbal communication and emotional
aspects [5].
Music therapy is a unique, safe, structured treatment
which it can engage ASD children in joyful interaction with
others. The majority of children respond positively to music.
Music therapy evokes them for social engagement and
practice of social skills. In therapy sessions they are
included to be active (singing or playing the instruments) or
passive (just listening). Even in adults with ASD music
therapy is effective. Music therapists develop music-based
interventions that facilitate communication, social, motor,
sensory, emotional, cognitive, and musical skills. Music
therapy services are customized to the individual's priorities
and abilities, and these services can be provided with the
participation of families and treatment teams. People from
different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures and ages
can be included in music therapy Music therapy may even
be offered in schools, homes, music therapy clinics or
hospitals. Music therapy can leads to joint attention and
also help boost nonverbal communication skills in therapy
procedure and socioemotional reciprocity. In addition,
music therapy may help enhance social adaptation in
children with ASD and improve parent-child relationships.
Music cues can be used to increase patience and waiting
for the turn to come during a social experience, with music
structure outlining the social response time of the peer.
Musical cues can teach children with ASD to wait and
control motivations during a social experience, with a
musical structure that designs peer-to-peer response time
[6], [7].
3- Dementia, dementia is a progressive cognitive
disturbance leading to reduction in independent function
[8]. Music therapy also reveals its efficacy in people with
dementia, which it can alter behavioral, psychological and
cognitive features in Alzheimer disease [9].
4- Depression, depression is a mood disorder consist of
reduction in interests and loss of enjoyment [10].
Researches point to a persistent and remarkable reduction
in depression symptoms and improvement in the quality of
life via MT [11].
The purpose of this article is to further investigate and
focus on the role of music in the human body system.
Music affects the physiological, mental and physical
dimensions of human beings [12], [13].
According to previous articles, music affects the body
by stimulating the vagus nerve (VNS) [14]. Using VNS, we
can achieve positive states from different aspects. We have
different methods to stimulate it in cases where the vagus

The effect of music and vagus nerve to improve various Diseases
1855 P J M H S Vol. 15, NO. 6, JUN 2021
nerve (VN) has sensory fibers such as the ear, larynx, etc.
[15]. Unfortunately, little research has been done on how
music affects the vagus nerve, and more is suggested [16].
VAGUS NERVE
Vagus nerve or Vagal Nerve (VN) is the tenth nerve of the
cranial nerves (CNX) [15]. In addition, it was historically
called Pneumogastric nerve, which is responsible for your
good feeling, sufficient communication and optimal state of
the body and the gut[17], [18], [19]. Anatomically, VN is an
afferent (3/4 of fibers) an efferent (1/4 of fibers) nerve [15,
19]. The afferent component innervates tympanic
membrane, infrantentorial dura, external ear and external
auditory meatus, pharynx, larynx, trachea, esophagus and
abdominal viscera. It also innervates the taste receptors in
the epiglottic area. On the other side, the efferent
component is the responsible for innervating the
pharyngeal muscles of larynx and pharynx, muscle of the
upper esophagus, the muscle of the uvula, palatoglossus
muscle and the levator veli palatini. Additionally, VN with its
preganglionic parasympathetic neurons located in the
dorsal motor nucleus of medulla play an important roll in
innervating the viscera of the neck and thoracic ( like
heart) and abdomen[15].
When we cut the medulla in the transverse section (at
the mid olivary level), 4 nuclei can be seen that correspond
to VN. The following are: Solitarius, dorsal vagal,
ambiguous and trigeminal. According to these cores, we
have 4 main branches for VN in this section [12].
CNX with its dorsal nucleus plays an important role in
parasympathetic components. One of these CNX nerves,
which rises from the dorsal vagal nucleus to participate in
the fight against the autonomic nervous system (ANS), is
divided into two branches through the esophageal canal,
one for the right side of the body and The other is for the
left, the left gives the heart more nerve than the viscera.
The right side connects the sinus node to the heartbeat, the
arm tree, the stomach, the small intestine, and the large
intestine [20], [12].
Finally, where only the peripheral branch of the VN is
sent is the external ear, the auricular VN, also called the
Arnold or Alderman nerve. The auricular VN (AVN), also
called the Arnold or Alderman nerve, is the only peripheral
branch of the VN that is sent to the external ear. It is
afferent and has the most receptors in the ear, the central
concha and other areas of the ear such as anti-helix,
tragus, etc. have some receptors but their receptors are not
equal to pinna [21].
In the ear, addition to the AVN receptors, we have
some receptors that are related to other nerves, such as
the auriculotemporal nerve, the great ear nerve [21], the
sensory branch of the cervical network that innervates the
sensation of the lower part of the external auditory canal
[22] and the small occipital nerve [21], which originates in
the cervical network and is responsible for feeling the upper
and inner third of the canal [22]. Another nerve next to the
AVN is the facial nerve, which has both motor and sensory
fibers, one of which is the parasympathetic nerves, and in
addition to its sensory nerve, innervates the taste of the
tongue, the external auditory ear, the tympanic membrane,
and the ear bone [23], [24]. Maybe this is what can change
our imitations with different types of music [21]. Activating
the sympathetic for a longer period of time leads to an
energy imbalance in our body and the system cannot
provide enough energy, which can lead to premature aging
and disease and eventually death [16]. When the vagus
afferent nerve is activated, it leads to sympathetic
activation [21].
vagus nerve stimulation (vns)
The term VNS consists of all techniques that stimulate
vagus nerve [19]. VNS affects on diseases including:
autonomic neuropathy, chronic pain disease,
neurodegenerative alignment, inflammation and
cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, neuro
developmental disorder, autoimmune disease, vasovagal
syncope, hyperhidrosis, tachycardi syndrome, metabolic
alignment [16], [19], [25]. Some non-invasive methods to
VNS are: stress reduction, Nutrition, exercise, music for
instance, music with high amplitude and low frequency is
one of the ways to stimulate the tenth pair of cerebral
nerves. This type of music has a great effect on depression
[19], micro organism [12] and transcutaneous VNS (tVNS),
which is performed by stimulating the auditory nerve
branch of the vagus nerve in the skin of the ear. As a result
of Tiantian Jia et al.'s work, tVNS can dicrease heart rate
variability (HRV) and be effective in reducing sympathetic
neural flow, which is desirable in conditions characterized
by increased sympathetic nerve activity such as heart
failure. It can affect human physiology and provide a simple
and inexpensive option for an invasive VNS [26].
music and vagus nerve
ANS has two divisions, one of them is sympathetic nervous
system and the other is parasympathetic nervous system
which is more focused on in this section. The motor
components of PNS are performed in the cranial nerves III,
VII, IX and X and in the sacral nerves.
The responsibility of autonomic nervous system is
regulating the body's unconscious actions. The
parasympathetic system is responsible for stimulation of
"rest-and-digest" or "feed and breed"[3] activities and this
action is described as being complementary to that of the
sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for
stimulating activities related to fight-or-flight response.
Some PNS responsibilities are construction of pupils
(miosis), decreased heart rate and blood pressure,
constriction of bronchial muscles, lacrimation changes,
increase in digestion, increased production of saliva and
mucus, increase in urine secretion.
Music stimulates the vagus nerve, which in turn
stimulates the ANS system via VNS and relaxes the body,
it means music activates the PNS and have prominent roll
in relaxation because of decrease heart rate, blood
pressure, respiration rate, increase motility and relaxation
of sphincters, Increase insulin and digestive enzymes (it
can solve some gut problems), contraction of kidneys
muscles, contraction of bladder muscles (more activation of
kidneys and bladder) and relaxation of internal sphincter
that aids to urination[14], [16], [25], [22], [27].
music therapy
Music therapy is the clinical and executive interventions
which the goal of it is achieving to individualized purpose
and target. MT is performed by a reputable specialist who
has undergone a music therapy program and gained
knowledge and expertise in his or her work.

Atiyeh Sadat Hasani Helm, Mahdi Ramezani
P J M H S Vol. 15, NO. 6, JUN 2021 1856
Music therapy helps increase social adaptation skills
in children with ASD and improves the quality of parent-
child relationships. Music cues can be used to assist with
waiting, impulse control during a social experience, with
music structure outlining the social response time of the
peer. Musical cues can teach children with ASD to wait and
control motivations during a social experience, with a
musical structure [6].
In addition MT affect on depression. Both MT, active
and receptive (passive) is effective in the treatment of
depression because active MT in the context of therapy
offers new aesthetic, physical and relational opportunities
to the patient. On the other hand just listening to music or
receptive MT reduces symptoms of depression in adults.
Receptive MT over period of time can lead to reduce
depressive symptoms in the adult population. MT also
decrease anxiety and improve function of depressed
people. We can also number singing as one part of active
MT which improves symptoms of depression. In patients,
choir participation improved exhilaration, overall mental
health, anxiety, and quality of life. These interventions are
even useful for enhancing mental health in older people
and improving self-esteem and wellbeing in pregnant
mothers [28], [29], [30].
MT is also effective in improving dementia. While
receptive MT decreases agitation, anxiety, stress and
behavioral problems in the elderly and it is more effective
than active MT, singing, a subset of music therapy,
improves wellbeing, quality of life and cognition and reduce
pain. The function of verbal memory remains constant over
time in the singing group. Furthermore, singing changes
attitude and develope meaningful social connections. In
addition, a person with dementia experiences the
meaningful social connections as one part of community
member. Beside of music effect on diseases, music
improves sleep quality. It can lead to better sleep quality in
older adults in different aspects of sleep, i.e. longer sleep
duration, more sleep efficiency, shorter sleep delay, less
sleep disturbance and less daily dysfunction. Music affect
on student's sleep and procedure and significantly improve
it. It is also effective in homeless women that sleep in
shelters [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34].
CONCLUSION
All beings produce, have, send and receive the energy
from different sources. Energy makes human alert and
defines whether you are sick or not. Music is one of energy
that is utilized daily, consciously or unconsciously.
It appears clear that the use of music as a therapeutic
tool is very useful in a number of different mental health
conditions and in promoting general mental wellbeing. This
is particularly true when music is an adjunct for treating
depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and also dementia.
Music appears to be beneficial to both the individual, and
also to the improvement of social cohesion. The reasons
for this must reside in the nature of music itself as an art
form which supports human interactions within society.
Depending on the characteristics of the music such as
rhythm, frequency, amplitude, etc., different types of music
affect the PNS which is responsible for energy building,
food digestion, and assimilation. Light music for PNS has
calming answers and calms the human being, while high-
energy music like rock has reverse responses for the body.
Music allows us to improve aggression, reduce muscle
tone and treat constipation through the VNS process and
PNS.
Generally music can stimulates VN and by this
function affects on PNS activation. Because of this music
feature, we can utilize it for some diseases which require to
lower vagal tone for recovery.
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