"Il flauto magico" still works: Mozart's secret of ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Synchronisation/coupling between respiratory patterns and musical structure. METHODS: Healthy professional musicians and members of the audience were studied during a performance of W.A. Mozart's Piano Concerto KV 449. Electrocardiogram (ECG)/Heart Rate Variability (HRV) data recording (Schiller: Medilog®AR12, ECG-channels: 3, sampling rate: 4096 Hz, 16 Bit) was carried out and a simultaneous synchronized high definition video/audio recording was made. The breathing-specific data were subsequently extracted using Electrocardiogram-derived respiration (EDR; Software: Schiller medilog®DARWIN) from the HRV data and overlaid at the same time onto the musical score using FINALE 2011 notation software and the GIMP 2.0 graphics programme. The musical score was graphically modified graphically so that the time code of the breathing signals coincided exactly with the notated musical elements. Thus a direct relationship could be produced between the musicians' breathing activity and the musical texture. In parallel with the medical/technical analysis, a music analysis of the score was conducted with regard to the style and formal shaping of the composition. RESULTS: It was found that there are two archetypes of ideally typical breathing behaviour in professional musicians that either drive the musical creation, performance and experience or are driven by the musical structure itself. These archetypes also give rise to various states of synchronisation and regulation between performers, audience and the musical structure. CONCLUSIONS: There are two archetypes of musically-induced breathing which not only represent the identity of music and human physiology but also offer new approaches for multidisciplinary respiratory medicine.

[Treatment with crystal singing bowls for chronic spinal pain and chronobiologic activities - a randomized controlled trial]. / Quarzklangschalentherapie bei Wirbelsäulenbeschwerdenund chronobiologische Vorgänge - eine randomisiertekontrollierte Studie.

INTRODUCTION: This prospective randomized controlled trial examined the effect of harmonic vibrations of crystal singing bowls on the perception of pain, subjective wellbeing and chronobiologic activities (quality of sleep) in patients with chronic unspecific spinal pain. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 54 persons with chronic, unspecific spinal pain participated in the study. The treatment group (IG) received 6 units of a singing bowl therapy, the placebo group (KG) received a placebo treatment. The control group (NG) was not treated at all. Pain intensity, pain disability and quality of life were evaluated right before and 1 week after the intervention, pulse rate and skin conductance were measured during 3 therapeutic sessions. A 24-hour measurement of the heart rate variability to evaluate quality of sleep was made four times. Before and after each session the Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire (MDBF) was filled out. RESULTS: IG and KG had significant lower pain intensities compared to the NG. The NG even experienced an increase in pain intensity. The results of the MDBF suggest an unspecific relaxing effect of the intervention in IG and KG. Twice during the treatment a significant decrease of the pulse rate could be observed. CONCLUSION: Under the given conditions the hypothesis of pain relief and chronobiologic changes in patients with chronic spinal pain by a treatment with crystal singing bowls compared to placebo could not be confirmed.