Cardiovascular

Carle Foundation Hospital is involved in numerous cardiac-related device and pharmaceutical research projects.

Most recently, Dr. Abraham Kocheril, Electrophysiologist with Carle Clinic Association, has achieved international recognition for his Harp Study - a research project designed to learn if listening to music may make diseased hearts healthier. 

Preliminary results from this study being conducted by Dr. Kocheril, MD, FACC, FACP, head of cardiac electrophysiology with the Carle Heart Center in Urbana, Ill., found classical music played on a harp may slow a diseased heart’s rate.       

The study also found diseased hearts acted more normal under simulated stress, if the music was played beforehand. 

In the study, the researcher puts participants to sleep under anesthesia before a harpist plays Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.”  Dr. Kocheril says the heart rate slows down while the music is playing, even though the participant is not actively listening.  Once the music stops, researchers internally simulate stress on the heart to see how the heart responds after the music.