Singing is healthy for the heart

Cardiovascular functions are positively influenced

29/07/2013

Swedish scientists at the University of Gothenburg have found that the heart rate of people who sing together, synchronized. In early July, the researchers published Rickard Astrom in the journal „Frontiers in Neuroscience“ the results of their study and came to the conclusion that singing not only generally has a positive effect on well-being, but beyond both „has a subjective as well as a biologically calming effect, and good for cardiovascular function“ is.

According to the researchers, the synchronization of the heart rate takes place in chorus singing via the respiration or the connection between respiration and heartbeat. An entire choir, singing together, breathe in and out at the same time, resulting in a synchronization of heart rates through the interdependencies between breathing and heartbeat. In unison increase and slow down the choral singers heart rate. The aim of such research is to develop new therapeutic approaches for the medical care of patients - especially with regard to rehabilitation and prevention.

Choir singing with effects similar to yoga
To analyze the effects of singing, the Swedish researchers gave a group of fifteen 18-year-olds various singing exercises, observing the changes in heart activity ... „The results of the experiments show that the music has a direct influence on the heart activity of the individual members of the choir and that singing in unison causes a synchronizing effect so that the heart rate of the singers tends to increase and decrease at the same time“, the scientists report. Here the choir singing unfolds a similar one „Effect like breathing exercises in yoga“, explained the study director Björn Vickhoff. „We already know that choral singing synchronizes muscle movement and neural activity in large parts of the body. Now we also know that this also applies to a great extent to the heart“, Vickhoff continues.

Strengthening cooperation through common singing
In further studies, the researchers now want to investigate whether the biologic synchronization of the choir singers also opens up a common mental perspective that could be used as a way to strengthen collaboration skills“, reports the University of Gothenburg. Common singing is often an expression of collective will, „just think of football stadiums, workers' songs, singing the national anthem, religious choirs or military parades“, explained Vickhoff. The further studies should also show how singing can increasingly be used for medical purposes. (Fp)

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Singing in choir as good as yoga

Image: MirJamie