SAN DIEGO -- University of California San Diego researchers are tracking patients to see if music therapy in the critical care environment can make a difference in recovery, 10News reported.

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Music Offers Comfort, Healing

Early studies have shown music can lower heart rate and decrease the amount of sedation and pain medication a patient needs.

"Music changes brain wave patterns whether the patient is conscious or not," UCSD nurse specialist Patty Graham said.

Volunteer musicians serenade patients at the UCSD Medical Hospital in Hillcrest.

"It helps make their ICU experience softer and a little bit more bearable -- a little less stressful," Graham said.

Arthur Phillips recently had a pacemaker implanted and 12 hours after surgery he said the music helped relieve his stress.

"It's just wonderful," Phillips said.

Violinist Antonette Adiova (pictured, above) is also a medical student.

"Music has been a part of my life for so long. It was just great to integrate two things that I am interested in, music and medicine," Adiova said.

"When I play for them they are smiling, they're clapping. They're obviously in a better mood," she said.

Phillips said music therapy played a role in his speedy recovery.

"I could say I would love to come back again, but not really," Phillip said while laughing.

Musicians perform live music weekly in the critical care unit. Music therapy is also incorporated into other patient units in the hospital, according to 10News.

The friends of UCSD Healthcare have provided compact disc players and a music library of CDs.