“For performing a routine colorectal surgery, Dr. Claudius Conrad prefers the music of Bach, whose fugues and preludes mirror the methodical, structured steps of the procedure. But when operating on a patient with terrible burns, Conrad queues up techno or rap to set the right tone of tension and urgency. Surgeons have long listened to music while they work — everything from classical to Celtic to rock. They say it helps them relax and concentrate. But now Conrad, an accomplished pianist and a senior surgical resident at Massachusetts General Hospital, is scientifically testing how music affects surgeons, their patients, and even relatives in the waiting room. The goal is to understand whether music can improve results of surgery, and whether it might be used as a medical treatment.” (12/07/09)