Music Could Be Auditory Trigger For Addiction, Study

While music is linked to emotional memory, it also seems to trigger cravings for addictive substances, says a study.

"Strong emotions are one of the most widely cited maintaining factors for substance misuse . . . the substance numbs or alleviates negative internal states," said Genevieve Dingle, one of the study's authors, according to a press release. "Therefore, understanding how substance users emotionally respond to music has potentially important implications for substance use treatment."

Scientists tested 38 subjects in Queensland, Australia. Among these, 19 were in a residential treatment facility for "substance use disorder" (SUD) even as 19 were healthy control participants.

Phase one of the testing made the patients opt for some "urge" song that made them choose an addition, as well as one "clean" song inspiring them to stay sober. Listening to the "urge" songs made the group report that they had higher cravings than after listening to the "clean" song.

Phase 2 had both groups listening to three classical pieces. "One song has been shown to elicit peaceful feelings; another, happiness; and another, sadness," the press release explained. "Participants then rated how the songs made them feel. Individuals in the control group had a significantly stronger response to the happy music than those in the treatment group. Also, the treatment group rated the sad music as more pleasant than the control group."

"People with depression show more blunted emotional responses to musical excerpts representative of a range of emotions," said Dingle, which could have affected their reactions to the songs.

Hence, by studying how music affects SUD, scientists feel that it might help them to get treated. "It may be useful to evoke strong emotions during therapy . . . to explore and learn to tolerate these emotions in a substance-free environment," Dingle added, according to hngn.

The study was published in the journal Psychology of Music.