Music that stirs the spleen is good for transplants

Keep your transplants strong !

Few would deny that music has a fundamental affect on humans. It can reduce stress, enhance relaxation, and provide a distraction from pain. Don't ask me to explain the exact mechanisms just yet because the link isn't well understood, although there is some evidence that music may act on part of the autonomic nervous system - the nervous system which acts automatically to regulate the bodily functions that we have no conscious control over, including digestion.

But now new research suggests it may reach far deeper into the physiology of the body, stirring the spleen into helpful action.

Research from Japan published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery this week demonstrates that music can reduce rejection of heart transplants by influencing the immune system.  I pause here to point out that the study was in mice, so interpretation for humans needs care. But even so, the scientists found that certain types of music increased the time before the transplanted organs failed. There were lower levels of the chemical messages that the immune system generates during rejection such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma (IFN-y), and higher levels of protective anti-inflammatory chemicals IL-4 and IL-10, as well as increased numbers of  specialised CD4+CD25+ lymphocytes - cells which regulate the immune response.  They pinpointed the source of this proection to the spleen.

But what seems to be critical is the type of music.  So if you are the sort of person who likes those gentle wafty wave noises or tinkling of silver bells in the breeze - the sort of New Age thing you can pick up in the local craft shop, or just a touch of Ambient, you may want to think again. I'm sorry,

Mr Eno         

.... and Mr Schulze 

but these toons simply don't get your spleen going enough.   Open your lugholes to something else and try a bit of Verdi or an Ode to Joy (the choral part of Beethoven's 9th). 

The Japanese team found that opera and classical music could both affect the immune system but single frequency monotones and new age music did not. They admitted they hadn't tried Screamo, Dubstep, Gospel or Punk so clearly lots more interesting research is needed.

But for now get loud and get venting your spleen !!