Select Indian Ragas on Electrophysiological Parameters

In India, music is predominantly used as entertainment. Despite ample vedic literature available on the beneficial effects of ragas in Indian music on human mind and body, scientific evidence for the same is extremely meager. This initial systematic study of 6 ragas, is an attempt to provide scientific evidence and validate the use of Indian classical music \& thus present the scientific community with a new complementary therapy / non- pharmacological mode of treatment which could be used in prevention of various non-communicable diseases. In our previous study on prehypertensives and hypertensives, blood pressure (BP) reduced significantly after listening to Indian music \[raga 'bhimpalas' (raga that normalizes BP)\], daily for 3 months. Heart rate variability (HRV) recorded once on recruitment and end of study failed to show any change. On retrospection, we realised that the effect of only a single raga had been tested and the acute effects had not been elucidated. Specifically, EEG waves \& cognitive ERPs were not studied. Hence a study encompassing all the 6 ragas that are known to normalize BP as given in literatures such as Gandharva Veda (Sama Veda) \& Raga Chikitsa was planned. Among these, 3 ragas are now being studied \& data analysis is in line. This proposal is to study the immediate electrophysiological changes with remaining 3 ragas. Music can be prescribed as a cheap and effective adjuvant in the treatment of hypertension along with other lifestyle modifications. To the best of our knowledge, there is scanty literature testing Indian ragas. Thus there is a great need to address this issue.