The most relaxing genres of music were unexpectedly heavy metal and pop

A group of scientists from the Vera Clinic in Turkey in a new study compared the effects that the music of different genres has on the cardiovascular system. About this reports Mixmag.

During the experiment, 1540 respondents listened to different genres of music, while special equipment was recording heart rate and blood pressure.

It turned out that the most relaxing effect have pop hits of the 1980's - blood pressure was lowered in 96% of the volunteers, and the heart rate - by 36%. Other music genres that were also effective in lowering blood pressure and heart rate were 1970s heavy metal and pop music of the 2000s. The opposite effect was seen in techno, dubstep, and rock from the 1970s, where the subjects' blood pressure and heart rate increased while listening to such music.

It is important to note that classical music, the sound of which is generally recognized as one of the most relaxing, in this study did not have a strong effect on anxiety and tension - the heart rate decreased by an average of only 15%.