Evidence mapPaperPMID 41822413Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2026

Effect of music intervention on heart rate variability: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Enyuan Zhang, Xiaoyan Wu, Jing Xu, Fengmin Lu, Dongyan Wu, Yitong Yin, Le He, Henan Zhang, Pengyuan Liu, Qingliang Chen and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Enyuan Zhang *Department of Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Xiaoyan Wu *Pediatric Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Jing XuHeart Rhythm Center, Department of Cardiology, Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Fengmin LuHeart Rhythm Center, Department of Cardiology, Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Dongyan WuHeart Rhythm Center, Department of Cardiology, Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Yitong YinDepartment of Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Le HeHeart Rhythm Center, Department of Cardiology, Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Henan ZhangHeart Rhythm Center, Department of Cardiology, Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Pengyuan LiuCardiac Function Department, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Qingliang ChenDepartment of Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Wei MaHeart Rhythm Center, Department of Cardiology, Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of music intervention on heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: The protocol of this systematic review has been submitted for registration in the PROSPERO databa se, an international prospective register for sys tematic reviews, with ID number CRD420261283257. Data sources included electronic databases searched from inception through January 2026. Randomized clinical trials comparing music intervention with control were included. The primary outcomes were changes in HRV parameters after music intervention or control compared to baseline within each group. Mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for continuous variables. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's regression test. Results: A total of 24 randomized controlled trials involving 1,295 participants were analyzed. The meta-analysis demonstrated that music intervention significantly increased high-frequency power in normalized units (HFnu) compared to control groups (MD = 7.05, 95% CI: 1.00-13.10, Conclusion: Music intervention significantly improved LFnu and HFnu compared to control groups. People with emotional disorders can improve their HRV through music intervention. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, Identifier: CRD420261283257.

Indexed as

heart rate variabilitymeta-analysismusic interventionrandomized controlled trialssystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41822413
PMCPMC12976007

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.