Table 1.

Assessment schedule for measures of pain perception and markers of stress.

Measures		Online survey	BL	Intervention period										Post	FU
				M1	M2	M3	M4	M5	M6	M7	M8	M9	M10
Pain perception	Pain tolerance (seconds)		x	x		x			x				x	x	x
	Perceived pain intensitya (VAS)		x	x		x			x				x	x	x
Subjective stress	Momentary stressb (VAS)		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
	Chronic Stress (SSCS)	x												x	x
	Stress reactivity (PSRS)	x												x	x
Biological stress markers	HRVc		x	x		x			x				x	x	x
	EDAc		x	x		x			x				x	x	x
	Hair cortisol		x												x

The intervention period comprises 10 sessions of music listening (for a duration of 60 min each) scheduled within 3 consecutive weeks. Perceived pain will be induced via the cold pressor test (CPT) at baseline (BL), music-listening sessions (M) 1, 3, 6, and 10 (after music listening, respectively), at post, and at follow-up (FU). Music-listening sessions 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 comprise music listening only and no subsequent pain induction.

^aPerceived pain intensity will be assessed pre- and post-CPT.

^bMomentary stress will be assessed pre- and post-music listening and pre- and post-CPT.

^cHRV and EDA will be derived from resting state (=10 min) at baseline, post, and follow-up; in addition, HRV and EDA will be measured continuously throughout music-listening sessions 1, 3, 6, and 10.

EDA, electrodermal activity; HRV, heart rate variability; PSRS, Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale; SSCS, Screening Scale for Chronic Stress; VAS, visual analog scale.