Listen and Relax: Evaluating the impact of acoustic listening on biomarkers of stress as a function of stressor type and timing

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The utility of music listening to regulate stress physiology has gained increasing attention over the last two decades. Research shows that music listening can regulate emotion and induce feelings of relaxation. Consequently, music has been proposed as a non-invasive way to reduce stress. However, empirical validation of music listening in regulating  the human stress response remains elusive. Inconsistent findings in the literature stem from methodological limitations including sample characteristics, the stress induction protocol used, acoustic selection, and timing of music exposure. My research program will elucidate the modulatory effects of acoustic listening on the human stress response through systematic manipulation of the acoustic sound, temporal exposure to acoustic sound relative to stress induction, and the form of stress induction. My program will address: 1) The effect of acoustic selection on affect, brain waves and sympathetic activity; 2) The effect of acoustic listening on modulating the stress response as a function of stress induction protocol; 3) The effect of music listening on modulating the stress response as a function of timing ; and 4) The association between acoustic listening and stress physiology in a naturalistic setting. Furthermore, each objective will include an analysis of effect modification by sex and age. Additional exploratory analyses will consider gender and ethno-racial identity as effect modifiers. To address these study objectives, three studies are proposed. The first study (n=310) will entail a randomized within-between-subjects design with 5 acoustic conditions to examine acoustic selection on indices of stress physiology. The second study (n=240) will address objectives 2 and 3 using a mixed factorial crossover design, to examine the effect of acoustic listening on stress as a function of acoustic timing and stress induction protocol. The final study (n=300) will entail a randomized between-subjects field experiment in a sample of student during examination period. In addition to fostering the development of HQP, the proposed program will significantly further our knowledge in the fields of psychology and neuroscience by elucidating contextual factors that may determine stress modulation through acoustic listening and will provide greater insight into mechanisms of acoustic sounds in modulating stress physiology, within a diverse sample that considers age, sex, gender and ethnicity. The findings from this research will contribute to the ongoing development of music applications and technology and will provide important foundational work for future lab and field work by my team and collaborators. My multidisciplinary training and expertise in psychology and neuroscience, coupled with my collaborative work with scientists in music and auditory research, and the infrastructure at X (formerly Ryerson) University, makes me highly suitable and well prepared to lead this research program.