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Remo Djembe Drum
Key-tuned and fitted with
a type-2 Fiberskyn¨ 3 head, it produces a satisfying range of sounds
from high slaps to deep bass tones. Originally from...
Sale Price: $129.99 - $279.99
List Price: $229.00 - $459.00
Rating:
Recreational
Music-Making Reverses Stress on the Genomic Level
MEADVILLE, PA—A
groundbreaking study due to be published in the February 2005 issue of
the international research journal Medical Science Monitor shows for
the first time that playing a musical instrument can reverse multiple
components of the human stress response on the genomic level. The
study's principal investigator, Barry Bittman, M.D. of the Mind-Body
Wellness Center in Meadville, PA, says these unique remo djembe
findings not only shed new light on the value of active music
participation, but also extend our understanding of individualized
human biological stress responses on an unprecedented level.
Barry Bittman, MD
Medical Advisor
The research team led by Bittman included researchers from Loma Linda
University School of Medicine and Applied Biosystems, the developer of
the original technology that led to the successful mapping of the
human genome announced in June, 2000.
During the first hour of the novel two-phase study, researchers
employed a frustrating puzzle assembly exercise to induce stress in 32
adult volunteers who did not consider themselves "musical." In the
second hour, subjects were randomly divided into three groups. One
remo subset of individuals continued the stressful activity, while
another was allowed to de-stress, relax and read newspapers or
magazines of their choice. The third group participated in their first
group-based recreational music making keyboard program called the
Clavinova Connection which focuses on nurturing, support and
non-verbal creative expression, as opposed to mastery and performance.
Before and after each phase, the researchers sampled subjects' blood
for 45 known genomic markers or molecular switches that literally
"turn on" biological responses closely associated with health
challenges that range from heart disease to cancer, and from diabetes
to inflammatory diseases.
Instead of manifesting a common biological reaction to the remo drum
stress-induction experience, responses differed considerably from
person to person. Dr. Bittman said, "While we were challenged at first
by such a wide range of responses, closer examination of the data
revealed what we eventually termed individualized genomic stress
induction signatures. We were actually measuring biological diversity
in action."
These results shed light on how people exposed to precisely the same
stressor react biologically and psychologically in their own unique
ways. A combination of factors including one's health, genetics,
conditioning and a host of situational and psychosocial variables
ultimately determines each remo drum heads individual's distinctive
stress responses. While the precise biological links between stress
and disease remain elusive, it isn't surprising that under the same
chronic stressful conditions, one person might experience a heart
attack while another may develop high blood pressure.
Yet beyond stress-induction, the research shows that the
stress-reduction impact was far greater for individuals participating
in their first group keyboard lesson than for subjects who simply
relaxed and read newspapers and magazines. No statistically
significant reversals of initial stress-induced gene remo drumheads
expression were noted in individuals who continued the puzzle exercise
during the second hour. In contrast, six genes in the relaxation group
reversed during phase two of the study, compared with 19 genes in the
music group.
Bittman added, "Our preliminary findings demonstrate that active
participation in a group keyboard program was far more effective at
reversing stress signatures than simply relaxing and reading
newspapers and magazines. This is intriguing from an integrative
lifestyle perspective. One remo possible explanation relates to the
degree of active engagement in a calming expressive activity in
contrast to merely settling down to relax and read. With ongoing
research, recreational music making could potentially serve as a
rational stress reduction activity along with other lifestyle
strategies that include healthy nutrition and exercise."
"In simple terms, using a unique combination of the latest genomic
technologies, we showed for the very first time that we could turn off
the DNA-based switches that literally turn on components of human
stress response," said Muhammad A. Sharaf, Ph.D., Senior Staff
Scientist at Applied Biosystems. "The far-reaching potential of
inducing and subsequently reversing gene expression in this manner
introduces new and exciting possibilities for testing and tailoring
specific treatments to an individual, rather than a group."
"From a stress research perspective, this study introduces a dynamic
genomic framework for more fully understanding the complex biological
impact and potential health benefits of playing a musical instrument,"
commented George Stefano, Ph.D., Director, Neuroscience Research
Institute - State University of New York (SUNY) and Vice Chair, Board
of Directors - remo drum Research Foundation of SUNY. "The study's
innovative technological approach holds great promise for the future
development and testing of health strategies geared specifically to
the individual. Furthermore, it adds considerable insight into earlier
studies demonstrating positive health outcomes that come from
listening to music."
In the context of current stress assessment methods including
self-reported surveys, the researchers recognize that the remo drum
set utilization of a person's stress signature for personalizing a
host of healthcare interventions sounds like a futuristic endeavor.
They suggest this study represents a mere glimpse of the potential
that exists today for scientists to improve quality of life by better
understanding the complexity of the human stress response.
The study was supported by Yamaha Corporation of America and Applied
Biosystems |
