The Effect of Music on Resistance to Mental Fatigue: Evidence from the EEG Power Spectrum

To evaluate the efficacy of listening to music in alleviating mental fatigue among healthy participants and to explore the neural evidence for this phenomenon via electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: A total of 30 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the music group or the control group. Mental fatigue was induced in both groups using a 30-minute Stroop task. Following this task, the music group listened to relaxing music for 20 min, whereas the control group sat quietly for the same duration. Measurements were taken at three time points: before the Stroop task, immediately after the Stroop task, and after the 20-minute intervention period. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and 3-minute resting-state EEG signals were collected at each time point. Results: The data indicated that listening to music significantly reduced mental fatigue. VAS scores decreased more in the music group than in the control group (P = 0.031). The EEG iAPF showed significant recovery in the music group (P < 0.0001). Delta power in the frontal region decreased significantly postintervention in the music group (P = 0.011). Theta and alpha power also decreased significantly in the music group across multiple brain regions (all Ps < 0.0076), with no significant changes observed in beta power. Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of listening to relaxing music as a noninvasive and enjoyable intervention for mitigating the effects of mental fatigue. Moreover, iAPF, theta, and alpha power can serve as reliable biomarkers for assessing mental fatigue and the restorative effects of interventions such as music.