In a recent study, researchers found that people feeling queasy in a simulated car ride started feeling significantly better when someone hit play on some joyful music. Like, 57% better. That’s right—while you’re in the back seat thinking you might toss your breakfast, your brain is just begging for a little Lizzo or Pharrell. Sad music, on the other hand? Made things worse. So no Adele while your stomach’s staging a coup, okay?
What’s really wild is that your brain’s visual center—the occipital lobe—basically throws a tantrum when motion sickness hits. But when cheerful tunes kick in, it chills out, like it just got a forehead kiss and a snack. Joyful music lights up your reward circuits, basically distracting your brain like jingling keys in front of a grumpy toddler. Sad music, meanwhile, is like handing that toddler a breakup letter. Not helpful.
Best part? Unlike motion sickness pills, joyful music doesn’t make you sleepy, weirdly thirsty, or spaced out like you just woke up from a nap in 1997. All it takes is a feel-good playlist and maybe some Bluetooth earbuds to turn your barf-mobile into a party bus. Scientists do recommend more real-world testing, but let’s be honest: anything that involves blasting ABBA while saving your dignity is a scientific win.
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