Music Intervention Reduces Persistent Fibromyalgia Pain and Alters Functional Connectivity Between the Insula and Default Mode Network

Abstract

Objective

The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of short-term music interventions among patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and to clarify the alterations in functional connectivity and persistent pain.

Design

Pilot study.

Setting

All participants were evaluated at Juntendo University from November 2017 to January 2019.

Subjects

We enrolled female patients who had been clinically diagnosed with FM (N = 23).

Methods

All participants listened to Mozart’s Duo for Violin and Viola No. 1, K. 423, in a quiet room for 17 minutes. We compared the degree of pain using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and the numeric rating scale before and after listening to music.

Results

Pain scores were significantly reduced after listening to music. Further, we observed there was a significant difference in connectivity between the right insular cortex (IC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus (PCu) before and after listening to music. We also found that the difference between the right IC-PCu connectivity and the difference in pain scores were significantly correlated.

Conclusions

We found that a short period of music intervention reduced chronic pain and altered functional IC–default mode network connectivity. Furthermore, music potentially normalized the neural network via IC–default mode network connectivity, yielding temporary pain relief in patients with FM. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these results.

Fibromyalgia, Music, Chronic Pain, Magnetic Resonance Imaging