Listening to Your Favorite Songs Can Actually Reduce Pain

Researchers had people listen to music while heat was applied to the inside of their forearm.

A new study found listening to songs you love can work as a pretty good pain reliever. Researchers had people listen to music while heat was applied to the inside of their forearm. Not enough to burn them, just enough to hurt. They say it was like holding a hot cup of coffee against your skin. Each volunteer listened to various types of music while they did it and most music helped on some level. But, they reported far less pain when they listened to songs they knew and loved. Songs they’d never heard before didn’t help as much.