A new feature has been launched in the messaging app bot, which is broadcasting the song Weightless by the band Marconi Union. It’s said that this isn’t just ambient music, but practically a therapeutic tool for combating stress. We’ll explain how it works and why you shouldn’t listen to it while driving.
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What's this track?
Weightless (“Weightlessness”) is an eight-minute composition recorded by the British trio Marconi Union back in 2011. The musicians didn’t create it on their own, but in collaboration with neuroscientists and sound therapists. The goal was ambitious: to create a sound that would most effectively reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels.
In the new Telegram bot, the standard version looped up to 32 minutes — so that the user has time to enter a state of deep calm without being distracted by having to press the button again Play.
Does this really work, or is it just marketing?
Most likely the former. The track's effectiveness has been confirmed by a laboratory study Mindlab International. Scientists have found that:
- The overall anxiety level among the audience decreases by 65%.
- The heart rate slows to 50 beats per minute.
- The degree of relaxation at 11% higher than that of any other music tested.
How is this effect achieved?
The authors used several "dirty" (in a good way) psychoacoustic techniques:
- Heart Rate Synchronization: The track's tempo starts at 60 beats per minute and gradually slows to 50. The body adjusts to this rhythm.
- Tricking the Brain: There are no repeating motifs in the melody. Usually, the brain tries to predict the next note, which keeps it active. Here, however, it “gives up” and shuts down.
- Frequency range: The distinctive low hums and the absence of sharp sounds create a sensation of sensory deprivation.
Important: Due to its strong sedative effect, listening to this track is strongly discouraged while driving or operating complex machinery. There is a real risk of falling asleep.
Where else is this music used?
In addition to Telegram bots and yoga playlists, the track is used in clinics to reduce stress before surgeries, in spas, and even in rehabilitation programs for military personnel with PTSD. Essentially, it’s a legal and free “antidepressant” with no side effects.
(c) Image on the splash screen: Sibin K. Devassia
Animation, Brand / Graphic Design, Illustration
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