You may have noticed that listening to different types of music can change your mood. But did you know listening to specially designed music can also ease anxiety?
A new study by TMU psychology professor Frank A. Russo and PhD student Danielle Mullen found that listening to just 24 minutes of specially-designed music can significantly reduce anxiety.
The music used in the study was paired with auditory beat stimulation (ABS) – a technology that uses special sound patterns to help your brain relax.
“For people that don’t have the access to traditional therapy and medications, this is a nice alternative,” said Mullen, who led the research. “Some medications can take weeks to start having a positive effect. Music is an affordable option that can be used as part of a treatment plan when individuals are looking for immediate relief.”
How it works
To test out different doses of music, Mullen and professor Russo partnered with LUCID, a health technology company founded by TMU grad Aaron Labbé (new media ’18).
LUCID composed instrumental music mixed with nature sounds and theta-band ABS.
Participants listened to different-length playlists. The music was designed to match how the listener felt at the beginning of the session, then gradually shift them toward feeling calm.
The results were clear: music with ABS reliably reduced both mental and physical signs of anxiety.
“What we’re seeing is a dose–response pattern where about 24 minutes of music with ABS seems to be the sweet spot,” said professor Russo. “It’s long enough to meaningfully shift anxiety levels, but not so long that listeners need to carve out a large block of time.”
Affordable and accessible support
Professor Russo hopes this music therapy will soon be available to TMU students waiting for counselling appointments. Students could use it to manage their anxiety while they wait for therapy to begin.
Anyone can try this approach through LUCID’s web app called Vibe (external link) . The app offers both free and paid features that helps users manage their emotions through music and ABS technology. Russo serves as the company’s chief science officer.
“The goal of Vibe is not to replace clinical care, but to offer a low-barrier, engaging tool that people can use in everyday contexts–whether they’re feeling anxious, overstimulated or simply in need of a reset,” said Labbé, co-founder and chief technology officer at LUCID.
Next steps for the research
Mullen began working with professor Russo on the clinical trial while completing her master’s degree in England. The Texas native came to TMU in fall 2025 to continue working with professor Russo for her PhD dissertation.
She wants to study whether the music keeps working over time. For example, does the music still help ease anxiety if an individual listens to the same playlist over and over again.
Other research questions may include using the intervention on a daily versus on an as-needed basis, finding the optimal volume for listening and seeing if the intervention can help treat other mental health conditions and symptoms such as depression and insomnia.
“I’m really excited about this work,” said Mullen.
“I hope people who are struggling with these issues know that there is a large community of us that see them, feel for them and we want to help. That’s what really motivates us, wanting people to have a better quality of life and getting more accessible treatments into people’s hands,” she said.
A Zone Network success story
LUCID started when Aaron Labbé was dealing with his own mental health challenges. His undergraduate thesis explored how music could be used as a designed intervention.
After graduating, Labbé joined TMU’s Transmedia Zone to turn his research into a real-world product. There, he had space to build his product, ask questions and connect with mentors like professor Russo. He also met his co-founders through the Zone.
“The Zone created a rare environment where creative research, technical development and early venture thinking could coexist, without forcing premature commercialization,” said Labbé.
“It also gave me confidence that interdisciplinary ideas, especially ones that sit between art, science and technology, could be taken seriously and supported. That mindset shaped how LUCID developed from the very beginning and continues to influence how we approach research collaborations today,” he said.
Investigating the dose-response relationship between music and anxiety reduction: A randomized clinical trial (external link) was published in PLOS Mental Health on January 21, 2026.
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