The Music We Hear Affects the Way We Eat, Researchers Find

Music has long been known to affect mood, with classical music in particular having been shown to promote the release of dopamine, leading to reduced anxiety and stress levels. One recent music therapy intervention in an Australian hospital found that music was comforting and soothing for geriatric inpatients, helping them forget their worries.

The study also suggests that music can influence taste perception, appetite, and food choices. Background music in restaurants has been shown to affect the amount of food patrons eat, the speed at which they eat, and even how they perceive the flavor of the food. For example, one study revealed that subjects perceived food as sweeter when they ate it while listening to music they enjoyed.

Furthermore, the study highlights the concept of “audio-gustatory interaction,” where musical genre can affect the emotional flavor of food and beverages, thus influencing how people experience and describe the taste of what they consume. Even patients receiving treatment for eating disorders showed improved eating behaviors when listening to music.

The Italian researchers focused specifically on the effects of music tempo on eating behavior. They divided subjects into two groups—one listening to fast-tempo music and the other to slow-tempo music while eating focaccia bread. The study found that those listening to slower music chewed their food more thoroughly, spent more time eating, and reported feeling calmer compared to those listening to faster music.