Music and ABS as a Potential Anxiety Intervention

Anxiety is a growing problem and has been steadily increasing, particularly in the adolescent and young adult populations in the past 24 years. Music and auditory beat stimulation (ABS) in the theta frequency range (4-7 Hz) are sound-based anxiety treatments that have been investigated in prior studies with subjective measures of anxiety. Here, the anxiety-reducing potential of calm music combined with theta ABS will be examined in a large sample of participants with objective psychophysiological measures (heart rate variability and EEG), stress hormone measures (salivary cortisol) along with subjective measures (STICSA state). Participants with moderate trait anxiety (n = 100) will be randomly assigned to a single 24-minute session of sound-based treatment: combined (music \& ABS), or pink noise (control). Pre- and post-intervention heart rate variability and EEG band power (alpha, beta, delta, and theta bands), along with somatic and cognitive state anxiety measures (STICSA State) will be collected along with trait anxiety (STICSA Trait), and musical preferences (Short Test of Music Preferences). Our hypothesis is that the music \& ABS condition will have significantly higher EEG theta band activity and heart rate variability compared to the pink noise control condition. The investigators also expect to see significantly reduces higher state anxiety reduction in the music \& ABS condition compared to the pink noise control condition. Participants with moderate trait anxiety (n = 100) will be randomly assigned to a single 24-minute session of sound-based treatment: combined (music \& ABS), or pink noise (control). Pre- and post-intervention heart rate variability and EEG band power (alpha, beta, delta, and theta bands), along with somatic and cognitive state anxiety measures (STICSA State) will be collected along with trait anxiety (STICSA Trait), and musical preferences (Short Test of Music Preferences). The investigators predict that the music \& ABS condition will have significantly increased power in the theta and alpha bands, higher heart rate variability, higher state anxiety reduction, and lower salivary cortisol levels compared to the pink noise control condition.