The Healing Power of Music: Indian Study Reveals Benefits During Surgery

Thu Nov 27 2025 01:30:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent study conducted in Delhi demonstrates how music can significantly reduce the need for anesthetics and enhance recovery times for patients undergoing surgery, suggesting a revolutionary approach to patient care.

Researchers from Delhi's Maulana Azad Medical College have discovered that playing music during surgery not only lessens the dosage of anesthetics required but also accelerates patient recovery. The study highlights the enduring impact of auditory stimulation on the brain, even in states of unconsciousness, paving the way for a new understanding of non-pharmacological interventions in clinical settings.

Under the harsh lights of an operating theatre in Delhi, a woman lies motionless as surgeons prepare to remove her gallbladder. She is under general anaesthesia, but amid the hum of monitors, a gentle stream of flute music fills her ears, highlighting a significant new study that suggests music can ease surgical procedures.

Conducted by researchers from Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, the study published in the journal Music and Medicine indicates that patients exposed to music during surgery require lower doses of anesthetic drugs, leading to quicker recovery times. Specifically, patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy—the minimally invasive gallbladder removal surgery—were found to wake up faster and clearer when soothing music was played through noise-cancelling headphones.

Dr. Farah Husain, a senior specialist in anaesthesia and a certified music therapist, stated, Our aim is early discharge after surgery, emphasizing the need for patients to be alert and oriented after procedures. The study evaluated 56 adults aged 20-45, comparing the experiences of those who could listen to soft piano or flute music against a control group who heard no music.

The results showed that music not only helped lower stress hormone levels and stabilize blood pressure but also facilitated a more pleasurable surgical experience.
The auditory pathway remains active even when you’re unconscious, Dr. Sonia Wadhawan remarked, suggesting that patients may still perceive comforting stimuli when under general anaesthesia.

As operations typically provoke significant physiological stress responses, it’s crucial to minimize these effects for improved patient outcomes. This study advocates for the integration of music therapy into surgical protocols, potentially reshaping how hospitals approach patient care during operations.

The researchers aim to further explore music's role in sedation processes, realizing the profound implications of such findings: that mere melodies can assist in the healing journey, even when a person appears completely still.