Psychedelic Therapy and the Role of Music: A Scoping Review of Quantitative Evidence on Subjective and Objective Outcomes

Summary & key facts

This review looked at quantitative studies that measured how music and psychedelic drugs interact during therapy. It found 19 papers involving about 330 people, mostly testing psilocybin and LSD. The studies suggest music changes the psychedelic experience by making emotions stronger, by engaging brain systems that give things personal meaning and create mental images, and by making brain activity more varied. However, the studies were small and used different methods, and they often did not describe the music well, so we still do not know the best way to use music to help people in psychedelic therapy.

Key facts:

• The review included 19 papers with data from about 330 people who took psychedelics in controlled or therapeutic settings.
• Most studies tested psilocybin or LSD. No studies were found that examined music together with MDMA.
• Across studies, music tended to make emotions during the psychedelic experience stronger or more intense.
• Music also appeared to recruit brain systems that help people find personal meaning and create vivid mental images.
• Some studies reported that music increased 'neural entropy.' This means brain activity became more varied or less predictable while people were under the drug.
• The papers often gave few details about what music was used and how it was played, which makes it hard to compare studies.
• Because sample sizes were small and methods varied, the evidence is still uncertain about exactly how music should be used to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Abstract

PURPOSE: Psychedelics have received considerable attention due to their potential in treating psychiatric disorders. The "setting" during psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is recognized as playing a central role in the experience, during which music features prominently. Although music is theorized as directing and shaping psychedelic sessions, its precise contribution to acute experience and therapeutic outcomes is unclear. This scoping review aimed to map quantitative research on the interplay of psychedelics and music by consolidating existing evidence, identifying gaps, and where possible, reporting on effects of psychedelics and music on subjective (e.g., psychological) and objective (e.g., biological) outcomes. METHOD: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, relevant papers were identified through electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus) using terms associated with psychedelic compounds, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and music. Papers were restricted to quantitative studies published in peer-reviewed journals investigating human subjects within therapeutic and controlled experimental contexts, focusing on interactions between music and psychedelics. FINDING: A total of 19 papers (total human sample = 330) met inclusion criteria. Psilocybin and LSD were the most studied psychedelic compounds; no studies were found investigating MDMA and music. Characteristics of music conditions across studies have been limited. The findings suggest that music modulates the psychedelic experience through: (1) amplifying and intensifying emotions, (2) recruiting brain networks involved in meaning-attribution and visual imagery, and (3) increasing overall neural entropy. CONCLUSION: Considerable gaps remain in understanding mechanisms of action and how music is delivered to optimize therapeutic response, due in part to methodological inconsistencies and small sample sizes. This review underscores the critical role of music in shaping psychedelic experiences and therapeutic outcomes.

Topics

Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Action (physics) Altered state Anxiety Applied psychology Clinical psychology Cognition Cognitive psychology Consciousness Creative visualization Empirical evidence Empirical research Hallucinogen Human studies Inclusion (mineral) MDMA MEDLINE Modalities Music psychology Music therapy Psilocybin Psychology Psychotherapist Quantitative assessment Sample (material) Systematic review

Substances

MDMA Psilocybin

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety