Modulating Stress Through Music: EEG, Cortisol, and Subjective Responses to Genre Exposure

This study investigates the effects of music on neurological, physiological, and psychological stress responses in college students. Previous research links high stress levels with increased relative beta activity (Seo & Lee, 2010) and decreased alpha activity (Alonso et al., 2015). To explore this further, we examined the influence of different music genres—Disney instrumental, French death metal, and a control condition (babble)—on stress regulation. To analyze participants’ stress responses, an electroencephalogram (EEG) was utilized to assess alpha and beta brain oscillations. Salivary cortisol levels from participants were collected both before and after 15 minutes of musical exposure to evaluate physiological stress. Additionally, participants’ responses to the perceived stress scale were measured prior to and following music exposure to capture subjective stress perceptions. We hypothesize that the control condition will show minimal effects on all measures. Disney instrumental music is expected to increase alpha power, decrease beta power, lower cortisol levels, and reduce perceived stress, indicating relaxation. Conversely, French death metal is predicted to decrease alpha power, increase beta power, elevate cortisol levels, and heighten perceived stress, reflecting increased stress and arousal.