Several recent studies have suggested that listening to music can either reduce the perception of pain or enhance a person’s ability to tolerate it. Rod Salaysay is helping his patients one song at a time. (AP video by Javier Arciga) Nurse Rod Salaysay plays guitar for patient Richard Hoang in the recovery unit of UC San Diego Health in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2025.
Main Idea: At UC San Diego Health, nurse Rod Salaysay uses live music to help patients feel less pain and anxiety after surgery.
Key Points:
No clear negative impact identified.
Music chosen by patients at hospitals like UC San Diego Health may help ease pain and anxiety after surgery, which could mean less need for pain medicine and a better recovery experience.
Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.
Central named practitioner described helping patients manage pain with live music in the hospital.
Central hospital setting where the article’s leading example of music used for pain relief takes place.
Named psychologist quoted about music as a distractor and its effect on pain.
Named researcher cited for work on patient song choice and pain tolerance.
Named psychologist quoted to explain the pain-and-music research, providing meaningful expert context.
Named specialist quoted on how pain is interpreted by the brain, serving as expert context.
Named music therapist quoted on how music changes the experience of pain.
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Sign in to commentInstitution behind the cited study on music genres and acute pain tolerance.
Institution tied to Adam Hanley’s psychology research cited in the article.
Institution tied to Caroline Palmer’s research on music and pain.
Named patient shown receiving music in the recovery unit; present as a specific example rather than a central.
Institution tied to Claire Howlin and her music-and-health lab research.