The Science of Sound & Light
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The Harmonic Egg® is an innovative energy therapy that leverages the restorative power of sound, light, and vibration within a controlled, resonant chamber.
As interest in integrative and non-invasive wellness technologies grows, healthcare professionals are seeking the evidence behind such interventions.
There are numerous studies demonstrating the connection between music and improved physiological responses—such as reduced cortisol levels, regulated nervous system activity, and lower heart rate and blood pressure. This page highlights just a select few of those findings that inform the science behind The Harmonic Egg.
Sound therapy induced relaxation: down regulating stress processes and pathologies
This review article proposes that Nitric Oxide (NO) plays a central role in mediating music's physiological and psychological effects through complex neurochemical pathways in the brain.
Salamon E, Kim M, Beaulieu J, Stefano GB. Sound therapy induced relaxation: down regulating stress processes and pathologies. Med Sci Monit. 2003 May;9(5):RA96-RA101. PMID: 12761468.
Historical Foundations: The Fabien Maman Experiment
In the early 1980s at the University of Jussieu in Paris, Fabien Maman and colleague Hélène Grimal conducted a landmark study investigating the effects of acoustic sound on human cells. Using dark-field and Kirlian microscopy, they exposed both healthy and cancer cells to specific tones at low amplitude (~30–40 dB, 30 cm away). Their observations captured dramatic responses: cancer cells underwent structural disruptions or "exploded" at certain frequencies, while healthy cells vibrated more vigorously and emitted distinctive energy-field patterns, with these effects linked to both pitch and timbre.
Music Listening for Intensive Coronary Care Units: A Pilot Project
This study tested the use of carefully selected classical music in intensive coronary care units and found it significantly reduced patient heart rate, anxiety, and depression, while improving pain tolerance and nurse-reported behaviors. It also showed potential as a supportive tool for staff in a high-stress environment.
Helen Lindquist Bonny, Music Listening for lntensive Coronary Care Units: A Pilot Project, Music Therapy, Volume 3, Issue 1, 1983, Pages 4–16, https://doi.org/10.1093/mt/3.1.4
Music versus diazepam to reduce preoperative anxiety: a randomized controlled clinical trial
At a Barcelona hospital, surgical patients were randomized into two groups: one received a standard preoperative dose of diazepam, while the other listened to half an hour of classical or new‑age music both the night before and the day of surgery. Measurements taken just before the procedure—including blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol, and anxiety—revealed no significant differences between the groups, leading researchers to conclude that music was “as effective as sedatives” for alleviating preoperative anxiety.
Berbel P, Moix J, Quintana S. Estudio comparativo de la eficacia de la música frente al diazepam para disminuir la ansiedad prequirúirgica: un ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado [Music versus diazepam to reduce preoperative anxiety: a randomized controlled clinical trial]. Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim. 2007 Jun-Jul;54(6):355-8. Spanish. PMID: 17695946.
The effects of music therapy on vital signs, feeding, and sleep in premature infants
A multisite randomized clinical trial involving 272 premature infants found that live music—especially parent-preferred lullabies and rhythm-based interventions—significantly improved heart rate, sleep, sucking behavior, and caloric intake, while also reducing parental stress. The study highlights how live, entrained music therapy delivered by certified professionals can positively influence both physiological and developmental outcomes in NICU settings.
Loewy J, Stewart K, Dassler AM, Telsey A, Homel P. The effects of music therapy on vital signs, feeding, and sleep in premature infants. Pediatrics. 2013 May;131(5):902-18. doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-1367. Epub 2013 Apr 15. PMID: 23589814.
Sound Matrix Shaping of Living Matter: From Macrosystems to Cell Microenvironment, Where Mitochondria Act as Energy Portals in Detecting and Processing Sound Vibrations
This narrative review explores how vibration and sound influence biological systems, highlighting recent findings that certain musical styles and sound frequencies can modulate mitochondrial function in human cells. It examines the molecular mechanisms behind these effects, positioning mitochondria as key energy portals capable of sensing and transducing vibrational information.
Valenti D, Atlante A. Sound Matrix Shaping of Living Matter: From Macrosystems to Cell Microenvironment, Where Mitochondria Act as Energy Portals in Detecting and Processing Sound Vibrations. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jun 21;25(13):6841. doi: 10.3390/ijms25136841. PMID: 38999952; PMCID: PMC11241420.
The Harmonic Egg and Anxiety Relief
A 2023 Masters level thesis at the University of Portsmouth, Department of Psychology, titled “The Effects of Sound and Vibration Therapy on Anxiety in Humans” evaluated participants undergoing sessions in the Harmonic Egg.
Results showed significant reductions in symptoms of generalized anxiety, sleep disturbances, and perceived stress—validating the Egg’s therapeutic framework of sound and vibrational resonance.
Heart Rate Variability
An internal study conducted by The Harmonic Egg utilized an ANSAR machine to measure Heart Rate Variability (HRV) 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after a session. Results indicated noticeable improvements in HRV following the session, with some participants maintaining higher HRV levels between sessions.
While these findings are promising and suggest a potential for positive autonomic nervous system support, the data has not been peer-reviewed or published and should not be interpreted as medical evidence.
White Blood Cell Counts
In an observational study conducted by a medical doctor using a dark field microscope, clients were examined before and after sound and light therapy sessions in a chamber that was a precursor to The Harmonic Egg. The observations suggested that exposure to specific types of music during the sessions was associated with a temporary increase in white blood cell count immediately afterward.
Although compelling, these findings were not part of a peer-reviewed or published study and should be considered observational and not a substitute for medical evidence.
Lynn, Gail. Unlocking the Ancient Secrets to Healing: Why Science Is Looking to the Past for the Future of Medicine. Real Human Publications, 2021. Page 100.
A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution
This review article explores the historical roots, therapeutic claims, and evolving scientific perspective on chromotherapy—the use of colored light to promote physical and emotional healing. Rooted in ancient systems like Ayurveda and Egyptian medicine, chromotherapy proposes that specific colors can balance energy and support the body’s natural healing processes. The article reviews a range of clinical observations and small studies suggesting benefits in conditions like anxiety, depression, and wound healing, particularly with blue and red light.
Azeemi, Samina T. Yousuf, Raza, Mohsin, A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2, 254639, 8 pages, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/neh137
Tranquilizing Effect of Color Reduces Aggressive Behavior and Potential Violence
This study explores how specific colors, particularly Baker-Miller Pink (a specific shade of pink), can have a measurable calming effect on aggressive behavior. Conducted in correctional facilities and psychiatric settings, the research found that brief exposure to this pink color led to a significant reduction in hostile and aggressive behavior within minutes. Physiological measures, such as heart rate and muscle strength, also decreased following exposure.
The findings suggest that color can influence the autonomic nervous system and emotional states, providing a simple, non-invasive method to help manage aggression and tension. The study supports the idea that environmental design—including color choice—can play a meaningful role in behavior regulation and mental health management, particularly in high-stress settings.
Schauss, A. G. (1979). Tranquilizing effect of color reduces aggressive behavior and potential violence. Orthomolecular Psychiatry, 8(4), 218–221.
Effect of chromotherapy on the anxiety level in the patients undergoing endodontic treatment: A randomized clinical study
This randomized clinical study found that both blue and pink chromotherapy significantly reduced anxiety, heart rate, and blood pressure in patients undergoing root canal treatment compared to a control group. The results suggest that exposure to calming colors before procedures may be an effective, non-invasive way to ease dental anxiety.
Saklecha P, Kishan KV, Savaliya K. Effect of chromotherapy on the anxiety level in the patients undergoing endodontic treatment: A randomized clinical study. J Conserv Dent. 2022 Jul-Aug;25(4):398-402. doi: 10.4103/jcd.jcd_381_21. Epub 2022 Aug 2. PMID: 36187850; PMCID: PMC9520646.
The impact of modulated, colored light on the autonomic nervous system
In a study assessing the effects of chromotherapy on healthy individuals, over 110 participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: exposure to specific colors, exposure to light with specific frequency modulations, or a placebo group exposed to non-modulated white light. Researchers measured autonomic functions—including heart rate, heart rate variability, and skin conductance—before and after exposure. The results showed significant changes in these physiological markers in the treatment groups compared to the placebo group. Specifically, warm-colored light (red, orange, yellow) was associated with increased arousal, alertness, and energy, while cool-colored light (green, blue, indigo) tended to reduce arousal, promoting calmness and relaxation.
Ross MJ, Guthrie P, Dumont JC. The impact of modulated, colored light on the autonomic nervous system. Adv Mind Body Med. 2013 Fall;27(4):7-16. PMID: 24067320.