The impact of music upon sleep tendency as measured by the multiple sleep latency test and maintenance of wakefulness test

Abstract

Previous work has shown that background noise or music has a small positive impact on performance during sleep deprivation. The current study examined the effect of background music on the ability to fall asleep or remain awake. Twelve normal-sleeping young adults took multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT) and maintenance of wakefulness tests (MWT) after baseline sleep and one night of total sleep deprivation either with background music or under standard (quiet) conditions. It was hypothesized that the music would help maintain wakefulness both under baseline and sleep deprivation conditions. The results of the study showed that sleep latencies were increased in both MSLT and MWT when music was presented, but that this effect occurred primarily before subjects were sleep-deprived (a significant Music by Sleep Deprivation interaction). Sleep latencies were 15 and 11 min on the MSLT (33 and 26 min on the MWT) with Music as compared to Quiet after baseline sleep. Heart rate, used as a measure of physiological arousal, was significantly elevated in MWT and MSLT trials where music was presented. These data support previous work showing that level of arousal has an impact on measured sleep tendency which is independent of that of the sleep system. On a practical level, these data indicate that music may play a small beneficial role in helping to maintain arousal.