Cigna Healthcare has teamed up with basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson to launch a new digital music campaign aimed at improving mental and emotional well-being.
The initiative, called Magic Sounds, is based on research showing that music and sound can influence mood, attention and relaxation. The digital album, created by Bloomfield-based Cigna Healthcare with input from clinical experts and music therapists, includes six therapeutic tracks ranging from rainforest ambience and ocean waves to guided meditations and basketball-inspired beats designed to trigger an autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR).
“Scientific research has demonstrated that a variety of sounds and music can activate brain areas associated with memory, emotion and attention, which can boost mood, promote relaxation and enhance emotional regulation,” said Dr. Stuart Lustig, national medical executive for behavioral health at Evernorth, a division of The Cigna Group.
Studies from Johns Hopkins University and the American Psychiatric Association have found that listening to music or soothing sounds can significantly reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, especially in workplace settings. Music therapy also has been shown to help with depression, sleep disorders and substance-use recovery.
To ensure each track provides measurable benefits, Cigna Healthcare collaborated with music therapists to develop specific tempos, frequencies and instrumentations aimed at different outcomes. Tracks for anxiety relief and focus feature slow, non-lyrical instrumentals and gentle birdsong, while those for stress reduction and sleep incorporate ambient soundscapes and binaural beats. Binaural beats involve using both ears.
The first track, “Bounce,” was released Monday. Inspired by Johnson’s basketball career, the high-energy composition is designed to help listeners relieve stress and improve mood through movement.
The full album will be released Nov. 14 and will be available free to the public.
“Music has always been a source of motivation and healing for me, both on and off the court,” Johnson said in a statement. “I’m proud to partner with Cigna Healthcare to bring Magic Sounds to life and help people find new ways to care for their mental and emotional health.”