Can music soothe the tiniest hearts? new study tests genres on preterm infants

NCT ID NCT04049526

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study looked at how different types of music (soft pop-rap, pop-rock, and classical) affect heart rate variability in 30 very low birth weight premature babies. Each baby listened to music for 25 minutes daily over 3 days, with a day of no music for comparison. The goal is to understand which music might best support their developing nervous systems.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

music listening (soft pop-rap, pop-rock, classical)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could help design better music-based care to support the development of premature infants.

What could go wrong

This is a very small pilot study (30 infants) with no direct health outcome measured. Results may not apply to all preterm babies or lead to clear clinical changes.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Infant Behavior

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Barbara Sgobbi

    Varese, Italy, Italy