Research on pain and music appears to have been conducted in various countries. For example, in 2020, the Medical University of Vienna in Austria announced that playing music during treatment reduced the amount of sedatives used. The medical school successfully reduced the amount of sedatives used by playing soft music to 23 children undergoing general anesthesia. Japan is not far behind. For the past two years, the National Cancer Center Hospital East has been conducting this type of research on patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. In addition to data from studies examining electroencephalograms, the hospital is verifying the effectiveness of music intervention. The hospital has begun research into the sedative effects of EEG measurements and music-playing earphone-type devices. The aim is to analyze EEG data and reduce the burden on patients and medical professionals.
Unlike general anesthesia used during surgical procedures, endoscopy often requires the absence of an anesthesiologist. Moderate sedation is recommended for this procedure, and local anesthesia and painkillers are used. In this case, the level of anesthesia is monitored by monitoring the patient’s mental state and blood pressure. However, maintaining a moderate level of sedation during this test can be difficult. Therefore, East Hospital is scientifically investigating whether music affects the effectiveness of anesthesia. Music is known to enhance sedation, but quantitative data has not been available to date. Currently, data is being collected through these methods.
The growing interest in music and other technologies is due in part to technological advances. One technology that is gaining attention is brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). BCIs read brain and neural information to control computers and other devices. Efforts are underway to use this technology to allow people with disabilities who cannot move their limbs to control games using brainwaves. The challenge with this incredible technology is that many EEG machines used in research require the insertion of electrodes into the brain. This type is considered “invasive.” The current challenge with “invasive” BCIs is that their applications beyond medical and healthcare applications have yet to be established. Meanwhile, “non-invasive” BCIs use music and other brain-friendly techniques that do not place a burden on the brain. “Non-invasive” devices are easy to wear and use, and are expected to have applications beyond healthcare. Development of “non-invasive” devices that read brain waves from the surface of the skin without the need for surgery is progressing. Using music during endoscopic examinations would be considered a “non-invasive” device, and the results are expected to be promising.
