Why is music therapeutic for neurological disorders? The Therapeutic Music Capacities Model

Speech-in-noise, psychosocial, and heart rate variability outcomes of group singing or audiobook club interventions for older adults with unaddressed hearing loss: A SingWell Project multisite, randomized controlled trial, registered report protocol

BACKGROUND

Unaddressed age-related hearing loss is highly prevalent among older adults, typified by negative consequences for speech-in-noise perception and psychosocial wellbeing. There is promising evidence that group singing may enhance speech-in-noise perception and psychosocial wellbeing. However, there is a lack of robust evidence, primarily due to the literature being based on small sample sizes, single site studies, and a lack of randomized controlled trials. Hence, to address these concerns, this SingWell Project study utilizes an appropriately powered sample size, multisite, randomized controlled trial approach, with a robust preplanned statistical analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To explore if group singing may improve speech-in-noise perception and psychosocial wellbeing for older adults with unaddressed hearing loss.

METHODS

We designed an international, multisite, randomized controlled trial to explore the benefits of group singing for adults aged 60 years and older with unaddressed hearing loss (registered at clinicaltrials.gov, ID: NCT06580847). After undergoing an eligibility screening process and completing an information and consent form, we intend to recruit 210 participants that will be randomly assigned to either group singing or an audiobook club (control group) intervention for a training period of 12-weeks. The study has multiple timepoints for testing, that are broadly categorized as macro (i.e., pre- and post-measures across the 12-weeks), or micro timepoints (i.e., pre- and post-measures across a weekly training session). Macro measures include behavioural measures of speech and music perception, and psychosocial questionnaires. Micro measures include psychosocial questionnaires and heart-rate variability.

HYPOTHESES

We hypothesize that group singing may be effective at improving speech perception and psychosocial outcomes for adults aged 60 years and older with unaddressed hearing loss-more so than participants in the control group.

The effects of music-based interventions on behavioural and psychological symptoms of people living with dementia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis protocol

OBJECTIVES

People living with dementia often experience behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which severely affect their well-being during the course of the disease. Particularly for BPSD outcomes, there is a high demand for increasing the evidence-based knowledge of non-pharmacological approaches, such as music-based interventions. Although previous reviews emphasize the potential effects of music-based interventions in people with dementia, they cover a wide range of different interventions and outcomes.

METHOD

Therefore, this systematic review (SR) and network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to not only investigate the efficacy of music-based interventions on BPSD, but also to compare the impact of different types of music-based interventions on outcomes. Preferred reporting items for SR and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) and the PRISMA NMA extension were followed. Several databases will be searched from inception to the date the search will be performed, for relevant randomized or non-randomized controlled trials comparing a music-based intervention with treatment as usual, active controls, or another music-based intervention. Multivariate pairwise meta-analyses will be conducted for each outcome. NMA based on a frequentist random-effects model will be used to estimate the comparative effects of each type of music-based intervention and related components across outcomes. Heterogeneity will be investigated by meta-regression models.

CONCLUSION

Based on our knowledge, this may be the first SR and NMA study to compare the efficacy of different types of music-based interventions. In addition, combined with our multivariate analysis approach, it will allow us to identify potential effect modifiers in music-based intervention for treating BPSD.

Music Matters, but so Does the Outcome Measure: A Randomized Controlled Trial for an Individualized Music Intervention for People Living with Dementia

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate differential effects of an individualized music listening intervention for people living with dementia in institutional care.

METHODS

Data from 118 people living with dementia, with a mean age of 84.05 years (SD = 7.00 years, 76.3% were female), was used to investigate effects of 6 weeks of listening to individualized music. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group, listening to individualized playlists for 20 min every other day, and a control group, receiving standard care. Effects of the intervention were analyzed by proxy ratings using Goal Attainment Scaling. Different aspects of quality of life were also assessed and analyzed using standardized questionnaires at four assessment points.

RESULTS

Attainment of individual goals following 6 weeks of individualized music listening was more frequently reported from the nursing staff in the intervention group, compared to the control group (d = .57). There were no effects of listening to individualized music regularly considering questionnaire data on different aspects of quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a personalized measure may help to understand the potential of individualized music listening more adequately.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The results indicate that listening to music can lead to positive but individually different effects.

REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00013793); ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN59052178).

Effects of Mozart-Orff parent-child music therapy among mothers and their preschool children with autism spectrum disorder: A mixed-methods randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) negatively impacts mental health, particularly in mothers of autistic children who experience heightened stress. Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and music therapy are recognised interventions for improving ASD symptoms. However, the specific benefits of parent-child music therapy and ABA for autistic children and their mothers remain uncertain. This study evaluated the effects of parent-child music therapy on preschool autistic children and their mothers.

METHOD

A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 100 mother-child pairs assigned to either the control group receiving ABA or the intervention group receiving both music therapy and ABA. Qualitative interviews were conducted post-intervention for 12 mothers.

RESULTS

Children in the intervention group exhibited lower scores for ASD symptoms than those in the control group. Moreover, mothers in the intervention group demonstrated reduced dysfunctional parent-child interaction, lower overall parental stress, significantly improved family functioning, and increased levels of hope compared with those in the control group. Mothers held positive views regarding music therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining ABA with parent-child music therapy can alleviate ASD symptoms in children and reduce stress in mothers. Improved parent-child interaction and enhanced family functioning further support the benefits of this combined approach. Parent-child music therapy, combined with ABA demonstrated positive outcomes for autistic children, including reduced ASD symptoms, improved parent-child interaction, decreased parental stress, enhanced family functioning, and increased hope. These findings highlight the potential of incorporating music therapy as a valuable component in the comprehensive treatment of ASD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial registry (05/07/2021, ChiCTR2100048261, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=128957 ). Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Fujian Medical University and the study hospital (Fujian Provincial Maternity and Child Health Hospital; 2017 - 105), and informed consent was obtained from all subjects and/or their legal guardian(s).

Using music to assist language learning in autistic children with minimal verbal language: The MAP feasibility RCT

LAY ABSTRACT

Research has shown that autistic individuals often have unusually good musical skills and that combining words and music helps autistic individuals to focus on spoken words. This study tests the idea that music will help with early language learning of preschool autistic children. The results show that when caregivers sing words to autistic children, the children pay more attention to the caregiver than when the words are spoken and that they learn word combinations more easily.

Memory, attention and creativity as cognitive processes in musical performance: A case study of students and professionals among non-musicians and musicians

This research discusses that cognitive processes such as memory, attention and creativity differ in students and professionals, among musicians and non-musicians, dealing with musical performance. The purpose of the study was to evaluate and compare the role of memory, attention and creativity as cognitive processes in musical performance, focusing on the differences between non-musicians and musicians. The sample involved 400 individuals, students and professionals, specialising in music and economics. The research instruments used by the scholars were the Wechsler Memory Scale, the Conners Performance Test, and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Musical students possessed better-developed auditory and short-term memory, while professional musicians had better auditory, visual working and short-term memory. Analysis of attention reveals that music students score better than non-musicians on all four aspects: inattention, impulsivity, sustained attention, and vigilance. For professionals, the key aspects are impulsivity and sustained attention with better results revealed in musicians. Creative thinking was the only factor where the differences were statistically significant in all five scales and the findings proved that creativity was better developed among musicians. This study provides an in-depth analysis and adds new knowledge to existing literature and empirical data on the cognitive processes associated with musical performance, focusing on memory, attention and creativity. By examining the differences between non-musicians and musicians, as well as students and professionals, the study provides insight into how musical performance can be used as a way to develop these cognitive processes.

Overcoming boundaries: Interdisciplinary challenges and opportunities in cognitive neuroscience

Cognitive neuroscience has considerable untapped potential to translate our understanding of brain function into applications that maintain, restore, or enhance human cognition. Complex, real-world phenomena encountered in daily life, professional contexts, and in the arts, can also be a rich source of information for better understanding cognition, which in turn can lead to advances in knowledge and health outcomes. Interdisciplinary work is needed for these bi-directional benefits to be realized. Our cognitive neuroscience team has been collaborating on several interdisciplinary projects: hardware and software development for brain stimulation, measuring human operator state in safety-critical robotics environments, and exploring emotional regulation in actors who perform traumatic narratives. Our approach is to study research questions of mutual interest in the contexts of domain-specific applications, using (and sometimes improving) the experimental tools and techniques of cognitive neuroscience. These interdisciplinary attempts are described as case studies in the present work to illustrate non-trivial challenges that come from working across traditional disciplinary boundaries. We reflect on how obstacles to interdisciplinary work can be overcome, with the goals of enriching our understanding of human cognition and amplifying the positive effects cognitive neuroscientists have on society and innovation.

Therapeutic potential of gamma entrainment using sensory stimulation for cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with significant morbidity. Treatment options that address the spectrum of symptoms are limited, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS) is an emerging treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders that uses sensory stimulation to entrain impaired oscillatory network activity and restore brain function. Aberrant oscillatory activity often underlies the symptoms experienced by patients with schizophrenia. We propose that GENUS has therapeutic potential for schizophrenia. This paper reviews the current status of schizophrenia treatment and explores the use of sensory stimulation as an adjunctive treatment, specifically through gamma entrainment. Impaired gamma frequency entrainment is observed in patients, particularly in response to auditory and visual stimuli. Thus, sensory stimulation, such as music listening, may have therapeutic potential for individuals with schizophrenia. GENUS holds novel therapeutic potential to improve the lives of individuals with schizophrenia, but further research is required to determine the efficacy of GENUS, optimize its delivery and therapeutic window, and develop strategies for its implementation in specific patient populations.

The effect of dance on mental health and quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and three-level meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Dance has emerged as a comprehensive intervention for enhancing well-being in this population. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of dance on mental health and quality of life among individuals with PD.

METHODS

Three databases were searched in December 2022. Research papers comparing the effects of dance with a non-dance control on the quality of life or mental health of individuals with PD were included. Two authors independently screened the studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of eligible studies. To address the interdependence of effect sizes within studies, the three-level meta-analysis approach was employed to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Thirteen trials involving a total of 496 participants were included, with 11 being subjected to statistical analysis. The results indicated that dance had a positive impact on mental health (g = 0.43, 95 % CI = [0.11, 0.75]) and quality of life (g = 0.46, 95 % CI = [-0.04, 0.95]) when compared to passive control groups. Moderator analyses revealed that non-partnered dance and dance interventions with lower total dosages were particularly beneficial for mental health.

CONCLUSION

Dance interventions are an effective lifestyle activity for enhancing mental health and quality of life in individuals with PD. A theoretical framework is proposed to explain the impact of dance on well-being from neurological, social, physical, and psychological perspectives.

Effects of Music Therapy on Aphasia and Cognition of Patients with Post-stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This investigation sought to systematically assess music therapy's impact on aphasia and cognition in patients with post-stroke.

METHODS

Comprehensive searches were performed across major databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Vip Chinese sci-tech periodicals (VIP), covering publications up to December 2023. After screening and extracting data from the retrieved literature, its quality was appraised, which was followed by a meta-analysis using RevMan software (version 5.4, Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK).

RESULTS

Nine articles, which were published from 2008 to 2022, were covered in this investigation, comprising 309 stroke patients in total. Meta-analysis results from these variations were found to be not statistically significant in the degree of functional communication improvement between the experimental group and the control group (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] (-0.19; 0.77), P > 0.05). These variations were found to be not statistically significant in the improvement of understanding ability in the experimental group compared with that in the control group (SMD = 0.21, 95% CI [-0.66; 1.09], P > 0.05). The degree of improvement in repetitive ability of the experimental group was considerably greater than that of the control group (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI [0.01; 0.76], P < 0.05). These variations were found to be not statistically significant in the improvement of naming ability in the experimental group compared with that in the control group (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI [-0.19; 0.80], P > 0.05). The cognitive score of the experimental group was considerably greater than that of the control group (SMD = 0.75, 95% CI [0.44; 1.06], P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Music therapy can effectively ameliorate the repetition ability of patients with aphasia after stroke. It can also improve the cognitive ability of patients. Thus, music therapy could be further applied to treat this type of patients.

Response to Music-Mediated Intervention in Autistic Children with Limited Spoken Language Ability

PURPOSE

Autistic children with limited spoken language ability (LSLA) often do not respond to traditional interventions, reducing their social inclusion. It is essential to identify effective interventions, and sensitive measures to track their intervention response.

METHODS

Using data from an RCT comparing music-mediated and play-based interventions, we investigated the impact of spoken language ability on outcomes, and measured response to intervention through natural language sample measures.

RESULTS

Children with lower verbal IQ, relative to higher verbal IQ, made some greater gains over the course of music-mediated intervention. Natural language samples were helpful in characterizing communication and tracking change.

CONCLUSION

Music-mediated interventions hold promise as effective interventions for autistic children with LSLA. Natural language samples are robust in characterizing this subgroup.

Online assessment of musical ability in 10 minutes: Development and validation of the Micro-PROMS

We describe the development and validation of a test battery to assess musical ability that taps into a broad range of music perception skills and can be administered in 10 minutes or less. In Study 1, we derived four very brief versions from the Profile of Music Perception Skills (PROMS) and examined their properties in a sample of 280 participants. In Study 2 (N = 109), we administered the version retained from Study 1-termed Micro-PROMS-with the full-length PROMS, finding a short-to-long-form correlation of r = .72. In Study 3 (N = 198), we removed redundant trials and examined test-retest reliability as well as convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Results showed adequate internal consistency ( ω ¯ = .73) and test-retest reliability (ICC = .83). Findings supported convergent validity of the Micro-PROMS (r = .59 with the MET, p < .01) as well as discriminant validity with short-term and working memory (r ≲ .20). Criterion-related validity was evidenced by significant correlations of the Micro-PROMS with external indicators of musical proficiency ( r ¯ = .37, ps < .01), and with Gold-MSI General Musical Sophistication (r = .51, p<.01). In virtue of its brevity, psychometric qualities, and suitability for online administration, the battery fills a gap in the tools available to objectively assess musical ability.

[Anorexia nervosa and music therapy]

Supporting people suffering from anorexia nervosa remains a challenge. While traditional treatment focuses more on speech and its emergence for the patient and family, non-medicinal and non-verbal therapies are used more systematically, sometimes as a last resort. Yet, as a non-verbal mediated therapy, music therapy can find a legitimate place and complement all the psychiatric, psychotherapeutic, somatic, dietetic and nursing areas where speech already circulates.

Music-based interventions for unilateral spatial neglect: A systematic review

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of music-based interventions on unilateral spatial neglect. Five databases were retrieved prior to May 5, 2022. A range of study designs were considered, including randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, cohorts, and case series/reports. Types of music-based interventions were not limited. Methodological quality of randomized trials were evaluated using the RoB 2 tool, and the RoBiNT scale was utilized to assess the quality of case studies. Two authors independently summarized main results for assessments. Search strategies identified 186 potentially relevant articles, and 10 articles were collected for in-depth analysis. Preliminary results showed that USN patients performed better in cancellation tests than bisection tests after music-based intervention. In summary, pleasant music listening may have a beneficial effect on the visual attention of USN patients, and it can be hypothesized that this is related to the positive mood and emotions of patients induced by music. Music with a dynamic auditory stimulus as a new music listening programme in USN rehabilitation is worthy of further investigation. Instrument playing intervention can be considered as a multisensory stimulation to ameliorate neglect performance via multiple mechanisms. However, current results only support the short-term positive effects of music-based interventions on USN.

Finding Balance with Music: Music Therapy as a Tool for Recovery and Increasing Welfare for Orphans of COVID-19 Victims

Music therapy can effectively address children's psychological, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Music therapy can provide a safe and supportive environment for children to process their emotions and deal with the grief of losing a parent.

Cognitive Crescendo: How Music Shapes the Brain's Structure and Function

Music is a complex phenomenon with multiple brain areas and neural connections being implicated. Centuries ago, music was discovered as an efficient modality for psychological status enrichment and even for the treatment of multiple pathologies. Modern research investigations give a new avenue for music perception and the understanding of the underlying neurological mechanisms, using neuroimaging, especially magnetic resonance imaging. Multiple brain areas were depicted in the last decades as being of high value for music processing, and further analyses in the neuropsychology field uncover the implications in emotional and cognitive activities. Music listening improves cognitive functions such as memory, attention span, and behavioral augmentation. In rehabilitation, music-based therapies have a high rate of success for the treatment of depression and anxiety and even in neurological disorders such as regaining the body integrity after a stroke episode. Our review focused on the neurological and psychological implications of music, as well as presenting the significant clinical relevance of therapies using music.

The influence of music teaching appreciation on the mental health of college students based on multimedia data analysis

The mental health problem of college students has gradually become the focus of people's attention. The music appreciation course in university is a very effective approach of psychological counseling, and it is urgent to explore the role of music appreciation in psychological adjustment. Therefore, we propose an emotion classification model based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) to study the effect of inter active music appreciation teaching on the mental health of college students. We first extract musical features as input. Then, the extracted music appreciation features generate subtitles of music information. Finally, we weight the above features, input them into the network, modify the network through particle swarm optimization, and output the emotional class of music. The experimental results show that the music emotion classification model has a high classification accuracy of 82.6%, and can obtain the emotional categories included in interactive music appreciation, which is helpful to guide the mental health of college students in music appreciation teaching.

Does Music Intervention Improve Anxiety in Dementia Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Music interventions (MIs) have been widely used to relieve anxiety in dementia in clinical settings. However, limited meta-analysis with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on this topic has been conducted so far. A systematic search was conducted in four major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for data provided by RCTs from the inception to February 2023. The search strategy employed the terms "anxiety AND music AND dementia OR Alzheimer's disease". Thirteen RCTs (827 participants) were included. The results showed MI reduced anxiety significantly (SMD = -0.67, p < 0.001), especially for Alzheimer's disease (p = 0.007) and Mixed (p < 0.001)-type dementia. Moreover, significant improvements in agitation (p = 0.021) and depression (p < 0.001) in dementia were observed. Additionally, several psychological mechanisms which may be associated with MI were reviewed comprehensively. In conclusion, our findings support the efficacy of MI in alleviating anxiety symptoms in dementia patients. PROSPERO Registration (ID: CRD42021276646).

Person-Centred, Culturally Appropriate Music Intervention to Improve Psychological Wellbeing of Residents with Advanced Dementia Living in Australian Rural Residential Aged Care Homes

This quasi-experimental, nonrandomized intervention study reports the effect of person-centred, culturally appropriate music on psychological wellbeing of residents with advanced dementia in five rural residential aged care homes in Australia. Seventy-four residents attended in person-centred music sessions and culturally appropriate group sessions. Interest, response, initiation, involvement, enjoyment, and general reactions of the residents were assessed using the Music in Dementia Assessment Scale (MiDAS), and interviews and focus groups were conducted with aged care staff and musicians. The overall effect of person-centred sessions at two-time points were: during the intervention-351.2 (SD 93.5); and two-hours post intervention-315.1 (SD 98.5). The residents presented a moderate to high level of interest, response, initiation, involvement, and enjoyment during the session and at post-intervention. However, the MiDAS sub-categories' mean scores differed between the time-points: interest (t₅₉ = 2.8, p = 0.001); response (t₅₉ = 2.9, p = 0.005); initiation (t₅₉ = 2.4, p = 0.019); and involvement (t₅₉ = 2.8, p = 0.007), indicating a significant decline in the effect of person-centred music over time. Interestingly, during the period of time, most of the residents were observed with no exhibitions of agitation (87.5%), low in mood (87.5%), and anxiousness (70.3%), and with a presentation of relaxation (75.5%), attentiveness (56.5%), and smiling (56.9%). Themes from qualitative data collected regarding culturally appropriate group music sessions were behavioural change, meaningful interaction, being initiative, increased participation, and contentment. The findings suggest that the integration of music into care plans may reduce the residents' agitation and improve their emotional wellbeing in rural aged care homes.

Music Therapy for Gait and Speech Deficits in Parkinson's Disease: A Mini-Review

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive central nervous system disease with a common motor symptom of gait disturbance in PD, which is more pronounced in the later stages. Although FDA-approved treatments, including dopaminergic pharmacotherapy, deep brain stimulation, and rehabilitation, have some benefits in improving gait dysfunction, a fair amount of advanced PD patients can develop a disability, social isolation, and high mortality and morbidity. Recently, clinicians and scientists have applied music to clinical therapy, namely music therapy. It has been used as a unique rehabilitation tool to improve PD-induced gait and speech disorders. Based on relevant studies in recent years, this paper reviews the published literature about music in treating gait disorders and speech problems in PD patients. Additionally, we discuss current studies' limitations and emphasize the future potential research fields.

Does Music Therapy Improve Gait after Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury? A Mini Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

There is a growing body of research examining the potential benefits of music therapy-based auditory stimulation (MT) for individuals with movement disorders in improving gait performance. However, there is limited knowledge about the effects of MT on gait outcomes in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI). A previous review of MT's impact on gait in TBI had limitations, and there are no studies on its effects on gait in SCI. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to more thoroughly evaluate the impact of MT on gait outcomes in individuals with TBI and SCI. We systematically searched through eight databases and found six studies on MT in TBI and four on SCI. Our meta-analysis showed that MT has positive medium effect improvements on spatiotemporal aspects of gait in individuals with TBI (Hedge's g: 0.52) and SCI (0.53). These findings suggest that MT could be a practical intervention for enhancing different aspects of gait in these populations, although the limited number and "fair" quality of the studies included in the meta-analysis may affect the generalizability of the outcomes. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which MT may influence gait and determine the optimal parameters for its use.

Rich Intercultural Music Engagement Enhances Cultural Understanding: The Impact of Learning a Musical Instrument Outside of One's Lived Experience

Rich intercultural music engagement (RIME) is an embodied form of engagement whereby individuals immerse themselves in foreign musical practice, for example, by learning a traditional instrument from that culture. The present investigation evaluated whether RIME with Chinese or Middle Eastern music can nurture intercultural understanding. White Australian participants were randomly assigned to one of two plucked-string groups: Chinese pipa (n = 29) or Middle Eastern oud (n = 29). Before and after the RIME intervention, participants completed measures of ethnocultural empathy, tolerance, social connectedness, explicit and implicit attitudes towards ethnocultural groups, and open-ended questions about their experience. Following RIME, White Australian participants reported a significant increase in ethnocultural empathy, tolerance, feelings of social connection, and improved explicit and implicit attitudes towards Chinese and Middle Eastern people. However, these benefits differed between groups. Participants who learned Chinese pipa reported reduced bias and increased social connectedness towards Chinese people, but not towards Middle Eastern people. Conversely, participants who learned Middle Eastern oud reported a significant increase in social connectedness towards Middle Eastern people, but not towards Chinese people. This is the first experimental evidence that participatory RIME is an effective tool for understanding a culture other than one's own, with the added potential to reduce cultural bias.

Development of the Observable Well-Being in Living With Dementia-Scale

The Observable Well-being in Living with Dementia-Scale was developed to address conceptual and methodological issues in current observational scales for music therapy. Creative interventions may receive lowered scores, as existing instruments rely heavily on verbal behavior. Methods were (1) Systematic review of observational instruments: (2) field work with music therapy and sociable interactions to operationalize the items; (3) field testing assessing feasibility and preliminary psychometric properties; (4) focus groups with experts to investigate content validity; (5) final field test and revision. 2199 OWLS-ratings were conducted in 11 participants. Hypotheses of construct validity and responsiveness were supported (r = .33 -.65). Inter-rater reliability was good (84% agreement between coders, Cohen's Kappa = .82), and intra-rater reliability was excellent (98% agreement, Cohen's Kappa = .98). Focus groups with 8 experts supported the relevance of the items and suggested further refinements to increase comprehensiveness. The final field-tested OWLS showed improved inter-rater reliability and usability.

The use of technology for arts-based activities in older adults living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A scoping review

For older adults living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, creative arts-based activities can offer many benefits from enjoyment as leisure/recreation to an avenue to maintain cognitive, social and emotional wellbeing. With growing interest and recognition that technology could have potential to assist in delivering these activities in more accessible and personalised ways, a scoping review was undertaken to systematically examine the scientific literature for technology-assisted creative arts activities for older adults living with dementia. We searched PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and ACM Digital Library databases using keywords centering on population with dementia, an intervention using technology, and a context of creative arts, with no restrictions on the type of outcome measured. We retrieved 3739 records, with an additional 22 from hand-searching. 51 full-text articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Findings of the review indicate technologies principally being designed for music activities (listening, and music-making), as well as storytelling and visual arts. The majority of devices were custom-made, with studies mainly reporting on validating the success of the device/intervention. This suggests most work in the field is currently at prototyping stage, although a few devices are now commercially available. Recommendations for future research includes involvement of participants reporting on their previous experiences in the arts and how this influences co-design choices, and inclusion of different severities of dementia in the participant/co-design group. Furthering device development past prototyping stage as well as collaboration between teams would enable comparisons to be made across different types of devices used for the same activity, and comparisons across arts-based activities that could lead to cross-disciplinary outcomes for the design of creative arts-based assistive technologies.

Music Engagement as a Source of Cognitive Reserve

Music engagement is a ubiquitous activity that is thought to have cognitive benefits for the rapidly aging population. In the absence of robust treatment approaches for many age-related and neuropathological health issues, interest has emerged surrounding lifestyle-enriching activities, like exercise and music engagement, to build cognitive reserve across the lifespan and preserve neurocognitive function in older adults. The present review evaluates evidence of neurocognitive preservation arising from lifelong music engagement with respect to the cognitive reserve hypothesis. We collated a body of neuroimaging, behavioral and epidemiological evidence to adjudicate the benefits of music engagement for cognitive reserve. The findings suggest that music engagement should be considered in tandem with other well-established cognitive reserve proxies as a contributor to differential clinical outcomes in older populations at risk of age-related and neuropathological cognitive decline.

A Review on Music Interventions for Frontotemporal Aphasia and a Proposal for Alternative Treatments

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease, characterized by behavioral and language impairments. Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is the linguistic variant of this heterogeneous disorder. To date, there is a lack of consensus about which interventions are effective in these patients. However, several studies show that music-based interventions are beneficial in neurological diseases. This study aims, primarily, to establish the state of the art of music-based interventions designed for PPA due to FTD and, secondarily, to inform the planning of PPA-dedicated future interventions for Italian neurological institutions. The first aim is fulfilled by a review which critically screens the neurological studies examining the effects of music- and/or rhythm-based interventions, especially, on language rehabilitation in aphasic FTD. We found that only two papers fulfilled our criteria and concerned specifically aphasic patients due to FTD. Of those, one paper reported a study conducted in an Italian institution. Most of the reviewed studies focused, instead, on aphasia in post-stroke patients. The results of our review invite further studies to investigate the role of music as a valuable support in the therapy for neurodegenerative patients with language problems and in particular to PPA due to FTD. Moreover, based on this initial work, we can delineate new music-based interventions dedicated to PPA for Italian institutions.

Correction of Stress-Induced States Using Sensory Stimulation Automatically Modulated by Endogenous Human Rhythms

This article considers the dynamics of the development of a potential approach to correcting stress-induced states in humans, i.e., adaptive neurostimulation. The approach consists of presenting sensory stimulation automatically modulated by intrinsic rhythmic human processes such as the respiratory rhythm, the heartbeat rhythm, and electroencephalograph (EEG) rhythms. Many examples have shown that real-time self-adjustment of the stimulation parameters by these rhythms leads to a high level personalization of therapeutic stimulation and increases in its efficacy in suppressing stress-induced states. The publications reviewed here point to the advantages of this approach for developing innovatory technologies using complex feedback from endogenous human rhythms to correct a wide spectrum of functional disorders.

How Chanting Relates to Cognitive Function, Altered States and Quality of Life

Chanting is practiced in many religious and secular traditions and involves rhythmic vocalization or mental repetition of a sound or phrase. This study examined how chanting relates to cognitive function, altered states, and quality of life across a wide range of traditions. A global survey was used to assess experiences during chanting including flow states, mystical experiences, mindfulness, and mind wandering. Further, attributes of chanting were assessed to determine their association with altered states and cognitive benefits, and whether psychological correlates of chanting are associated with quality of life. Responses were analyzed from 456 English speaking participants who regularly chant across 32 countries and various chanting traditions. Results revealed that different aspects of chanting were associated with distinctive experiential outcomes. Stronger intentionality (devotion, intention, sound) and higher chanting engagement (experience, practice duration, regularity) were associated with altered states and cognitive benefits. Participants whose main practice was call and response chanting reported higher scores of mystical experiences. Participants whose main practice was repetitive prayer reported lower mind wandering. Lastly, intentionality and engagement were associated with quality of life indirectly through altered states and cognitive benefits. This research sheds new light on the phenomenology and psychological consequences of chanting across a range of practices and traditions.

Influência da estratégia de Estimulação Auditiva Rítmica com música associada à fisioterapia sobre os sintomas depressivos no Parkinson

RESUMO A sintomatologia depressiva (SD) é comum na doença de Parkinson (DP) e considerada fator importante para má qualidade de vida e incapacidade do indivíduo. Intervenções terapêuticas baseadas em ritmo e música, a exemplo da Estimulação Auditiva Rítmica (EAR), têm sido utilizadas no tratamento da mobilidade e parecem influenciar positivamente o estado de humor do paciente. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o efeito da EAR com música associada à fisioterapia no estado de humor de pessoas com DP, com ênfase na SD. Trata-se de estudo quase experimental, com amostra de 18 pacientes com idades entre 40 e 80 anos e diagnóstico clínico de DP idiopática nos estágios leve a moderado. Os pacientes foram randomizados em dois grupos: grupo EAR e grupo-controle (GC). A SD foi avaliada por meio da versão em português do Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI). Os escores do BDI apresentaram redução em ambos os grupos. Entretanto, apenas no grupo EAR essa redução foi significativa, com diferença média no escore três vezes maior do que no GC.

Influence of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation using music associated with physical therapy on depressive symptoms in Parkinson’s

ABSTRACT Depressive symptoms are commonly found in Parkinson’s disease and are considered an important factor for an individual’s poor quality of life and disability. Therapeutic interventions based on rhythm and music, such as rhythmic auditory stimulation, have been used to treat the mobility and seem to positively influence on mood. This study aims to evaluate the effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation using music associated with physical therapy on mood in individuals with Parkinson’s, with an emphasis on depressive symptoms. This is a quasi-experimental study with a final sample of 18 patients aged 40-80 years, with a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, in the mild to moderate stages of the disease. Patients were randomized into two groups: Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation and Control Groups. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Portuguese version of the Beck Depression Inventory. Both groups reduced their The Beck Depression Inventory scores. However, only in the Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation Group the reduction was significant, with a mean difference in the inventory score three times greater than the Control Group.

Art Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

IMPORTANCE

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication, and behavior. Occupational therapy practitioners use creative arts interventions for children with ASD, but relevant evidence for these interventions is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To provide occupational therapists evidence of the benefit of creative arts interventions for children with ASD by evaluating treatment efficacy and connecting the evidence with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (4th ed.; OTPF-4).

DATA SOURCES

We searched peer-reviewed articles in six databases: CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, Ovid, PsycInfo, and Scopus. Eighteen articles published between 2000 and 2020 met Level 1b or 2b evidence criteria and were retrieved for full review; 15 were included in this scoping review.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA COLLECTION

We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to extract data. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Level 1b or 2b study; (2) quantitative data; (3) published in English; (4) population of children (ages <18 yr); (5) primary diagnosis of ASD; and (6) creative arts intervention in the forms of drawing, painting, or coloring; music; or theater.

FINDINGS

Creative arts interventions benefited children with ASD in two OTPF-4 areas (process and social interaction) pertaining to the Performance Skills domain and one OTPF-4 area (body functions) pertaining to the Client Factors domain. We found similar effects for group and individual intervention sessions, and significant improvements required multiple sessions.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Our findings provide evidence for the efficacy of creative arts interventions to enhance occupation-based outcomes for children with ASD. What This Article Adds: Our findings support occupational therapy practitioners' use of creative arts interventions to improve OTPF-4-based client factors and process and social interaction skills for children with ASD.

Observing Music Therapy in Dementia: Repeated Single-case Studies Assessing Well-being and Sociable Interaction

OBJECTIVES

This study compared behavioral expressions of momentary well-being and sociable behavior toward significant others during music therapy and regular social interaction.

METHODS

A 10-week active music therapy intervention was provided for people living with dementia and family caregivers. A bi-phasic AB single-case design was replicated for three sessions per dyad and coded using the Observable Well-being in Living with Dementia-Scale (OWLS) and the Verbal and Nonverbal Sociable Interaction Scale-Care Receiver (VNVIS-CR). Effect sizes (Log Response Ratio) were calculated for each session and analyzed with robust cluster meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Eleven dyads were included, and 32 sessions analyzed (2102 observations). Within sessions we found a 48% increase in well-being, and a 32% increase in sociable interaction during music therapy. Heterogeneity was high. Dementia severity predicted an increase in nonverbal sociable interaction (93% for moderate dementia). Depression and time did not predict any change.

CONCLUSION

The potential of music therapy to increase well-being and sociable interactions toward significant others calls for further investigation of heterogeneity and covariates. Single-case designs are demonstrated to be feasible for these investigations.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Preference-based music therapy may alleviate some of the individual and relational consequences of living with dementia, facilitating positive emotions and connection to significant others.

Potential Benefits of Music Therapy on Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke is associated with a high rate of disability and mortality, and survivors are usually accompanied with dysphagia, aphasia, motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, depression, and other complications. In the past decades, many studies have been conducted to reveal the pathogenesis and pathological mechanisms of stroke. Furthermore, treatment methods have been developed that contribute to the elevated survival rate of stroke patients. Early rehabilitation poststroke is starting to be recognized as important and has been receiving increasing attention in order to further improve the quality of life of the patients. As an emerging method of poststroke rehabilitation, music therapy can help attenuate dysphagia and aphasia, improve cognition and motor function, alleviate negative moods, and accelerate neurological recovery in stroke patients. This review helps summarize the recent progress that has been made using music therapy in stroke rehabilitation and is aimed at providing clinical evidence for the treatment of stroke patients.

Psychosocial risks and benefits of exposure to heavy metal music with aggressive themes: Current theory and evidence

Concerns have been raised that prolonged exposed to heavy metal music with aggressive themes can increase the risk of aggression, anger, antisocial behaviour, substance use, suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression in community and psychiatric populations. Although research often relies on correlational evidence for which causal inferences are not possible, it is often claimed that music with aggressive themes can cause psychological and behavioural problems. This narrative review of theory and evidence suggests the issues are more complicated, and that fans typically derive a range of emotional and social benefits from listening to heavy metal music, including improved mood, identity formation, and peer affiliation. In contrast, non-fans of heavy metal music — who are often used as participants in experimental research on this topic — invariably report negative psychological experiences. Our review considers a comprehensive set of empirical findings that inform clinical strategies designed to identify fans for whom heavy metal music may confer psychological and behavioural risks, and those for whom this music may confer psychosocial benefits.

Where words are powerless to express: Use of music in paediatric neurology

Music is an art form that strongly affects people and can elicit many different emotions at the same time, including happiness, anxiety, sadness, and even ecstasy. What is it about music that causes such a strong reaction from each of us? Music engages many senses, which in turn can produce a multiplicity of responses and help create more extensive neuronal connections, as well as influence behaviour through structural and functional changes in the brain. Music-based interventions as a therapeutic tool in rehabilitation are becoming more common. It is said that the impact of music on the human body is positive. However, what impact does music have on the young nervous system, especially the affected one? This review presents the advantages and disadvantages of the use of music in paediatric neurology to treat dyslexia, cerebral palsy, and stroke, among others. Potential negative impacts such as musicogenic epilepsy and hallucinations will be discussed.

Effects of music interventions on sleep in people with dementia: A systematic review

Poor sleep health is a risk factor for and a common symptom of dementia. Music has been shown to improve sleep across a wide range of clinical and community populations. However, it is unclear whether and to what extent music interventions may also help alleviate sleep problems in people with dementia. This systematic review is the first review examining the effects of music on sleep outcomes among people with dementia. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, we extracted 187 articles from nine databases (Academic Search Premier, Ageline, APA PsycArticles, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Eight studies were eligible for this systematic review (Range sample sizes: 1-59 people with dementia). Results revealed that assessments of sleep in the current literature were limited and mainly focused on sleep duration, subjective sleep quality, or nighttime sleep disturbances. Intervention delivery, music selection, and findings varied. Positive effects of music on sleep outcomes were observed in six out of the eight studies (75%), specifically there were decreases in nighttime sleep disturbances, increases in daytime alertness, and improvements in sleep quality. The remaining two studies found no statistically significant change in sleep outcomes (i.e., daytime sleepiness and quality). Study limitations included small sample sizes and the use of proxy reporters (e.g., caregiver, researcher, blinded clinician) which may reduce the accuracy of the sleep measures. Future research may want to incorporate objectively measured sleep to better understand the role of sleep in dementia care. More research is needed to determine whether music interventions are effective in improving sleep in people with dementia and whether improvements in sleep can slow the progression of dementia.

Music Interventions and Delirium in Adults: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Delirium is a neuropsychiatric syndrome represented by an acute disturbance in attention, awareness and cognition, highly prevalent in older, and critically ill patients, and associated with poor outcomes. This review synthesized existing evidence on the effectiveness of music interventions on delirium in adults, and music interventions (MIs), psychometric assessments and outcome measures used. We searched MEDLINE, PsychINFO, SCOPUS, Clinical Trials and CENTRAL for quantitative designs comparing any MIs to standard care or another intervention. From 1150 studies 12 met the inclusion criteria, and 6 were included in the meta-analysis. Narrative synthesis showed that most studies focused on prevention, few assessed delirium severity, with the majority of studies reporting beneficial effects. The summary relative risk for incident delirium comparing music vs. no music in postsurgical and critically ill older patients was 0.52 (95% confidential interval (CI): 0.20−1.35, I2 = 79.1%, heterogeneity <0.0001) for the random effects model and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.34−0.66) using the fixed effects model. Music listening interventions were more commonly applied than music therapy delivered by credentialed music therapists, and delirium assessments methods were heterogeneous, including both standardized tools and systematic observations. Better designed studies are needed addressing effectiveness of MIs in specific patient subgroups, exploring the correlations between intervention-types/dosages and delirium symptoms.

A Systematic Review of Scientific Studies on the Effects of Music in People with or at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is globally increasing, and the current available interventions show variable success. Thus, there is a growing interest in additional interventions such as music therapy (MT). Therefore, we aimed to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of music and people with, or at risk of, ASD. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and used PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science as databases, with “music”, “music therapy”, “autism spectrum disorder”, and “ASD” as search terms. Among the identified and screened articles, 81 out of 621 qualified as scientific studies involving a total of 43,353 participants. These studies investigated the peculiarities of music perception in people with ASD, as well as the effects of music and MT in this patient group. Most of the music-based interventions were beneficial in improving social, emotional, and behavioural problems. However, the availability of studies utilizing a rigorous randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was scarce. Most of the studies had a small sample size, and the applied therapeutic and scientific research methods were heterogeneous.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Group Music Intervention in Memory Care Communities

Music-based interventions have been shown to reduce behavioral expressions among persons with dementia. The goal of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a group music intervention to reduce agitation. Two memory care communities were recruited to participate in this single-arm mixed-methods study. The group music intervention program included a total of 12 sessions delivered over 4 weeks. Agitation was assessed quantitatively at weeks 0, 2, and 4. Qualitative interviews of memory care staff were conducted post-intervention. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models and qualitative content analysis. The study sample (N = 19) had a mean age of 82.74, and 73.7% were female. The great majority of participants completed the intervention and 63.2% experienced a reduction in agitation, suggesting that the intervention is feasible and acceptable in memory care and may be efficacious. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of the intervention in a randomized controlled trial.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and Tomatis sound therapy in children with autism spectrum disorder

Many therapeutic and dietary regimens have been studied for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the last three decades. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and Tomatis sound therapy (TST) in an Egyptian cohort of children with ASD. This study was a prospective, open label, randomized interventional clinical trial. One hundred forty-six children with ASD with no previous rehabilitation therapy were enrolled in our study. Patients were randomly divided into four groups: the first group received hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the second group received Tomatis sound therapy, the third group received a combination of both modalities, and the fourth group, the control group, received no intervention. We found that the combination of Tomatis sound therapy with hyperbaric oxygen therapy had a superior effect in improving autism symptoms than each intervention alone (CARS after therapy 35.04 ± 13.38 versus 49.34 ± 17.54 before the intervention, p < 0.001). The combination of both modalities may be helpful for children with ASD. The most distinctive evidence that supports the use of combination therapy for ASD is still controversial; however, our study provides some evidence of the benefit of combination therapy for children with ASD. Future studies should use a more sophisticated research design and begin by finding a consistent baseline measure that can be used to evaluate the effects of these therapies for ASD.

The Value of Art in Persuasive Marketing Communication and Its Sustainable Effect on the Country of Origin

The value of art in persuasion integrates the country’s culture and art according to marketing communication. Our research examined the impact of artistic communication values on customers’ behavior as a sustainable effect on the country of origin by applying two hypotheses. These hypotheses were tested on 689 respondents, mainly from Romania. This marketing communication analysis indicated that persuasion had more value for customers when ethical rhetorical arguments, dialects, poetry, essays, poems, and fairy tales were linked to a country’s culture, such as tradition, national values, and heritage, or were combined with art, such as paintings, sculptures, and music. The results demonstrated that artistic communication influenced consumer behavior positively, having a sustainable effect on the country of origin.

Rhythm and Music-Based Interventions in Motor Rehabilitation: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives

Research in basic and clinical neuroscience of music conducted over the past decades has begun to uncover music’s high potential as a tool for rehabilitation. Advances in our understanding of how music engages parallel brain networks underpinning sensory and motor processes, arousal, reward, and affective regulation, have laid a sound neuroscientific foundation for the development of theory-driven music interventions that have been systematically tested in clinical settings. Of particular significance in the context of motor rehabilitation is the notion that musical rhythms can entrain movement patterns in patients with movement-related disorders, serving as a continuous time reference that can help regulate movement timing and pace. To date, a significant number of clinical and experimental studies have tested the application of rhythm- and music-based interventions to improve motor functions following central nervous injury and/or degeneration. The goal of this review is to appraise the current state of knowledge on the effectiveness of music and rhythm to modulate movement spatiotemporal patterns and restore motor function. By organizing and providing a critical appraisal of a large body of research, we hope to provide a revised framework for future research on the effectiveness of rhythm- and music-based interventions to restore and (re)train motor function.

The acceptability, adoption, and feasibility of a music application developed using participatory design for home-dwelling persons with dementia and their caregivers. The "Alight" app in the LIVE@Home.Path trial

BACKGROUND

Music interventions for persons with dementia can improve health and interaction with caregivers, yet the reach is often restricted to institutions. We describe the participatory design process of a prototype music application for patients affiliated with a gerontopsychiatric hospital and evaluate the acceptability, adoption, and feasibility of use for dyads of home-dwelling persons with dementia and their informal caregivers.

METHODS

The application "Alight" was developed following an iterative, expert-driven participatory design approach, which includes a requirement elicitation phase and two rounds of prototyping and testing in real-world settings. End users and stakeholders were involved in all steps, that is, workshops, interviews, field observation, ethnographic inquiries, and beta testing sessions with music therapists, patients, and caregivers in collaboration with a commercial music and technology company. The last prototyping and testing took place in the LIVE@Home.Path trial, a stepped-wedge multicomponent randomized controlled trial to improve resource utilization and caregiver burden in municipal dementia care during 2019-2021.

RESULTS

Mean age of the person with dementia in the LIVE@Home.Path trial was 82 years, 62% were female, and the majority had Alzheimer's dementia (44%) of mild severity (71%). Sixty-three dyads were offered Alight in the multicomponent intervention, of which 13% (n = 8) accepted use. The dyads accepting Alight did not differ in demographic and clinical characteristics compared to those not interested. The feasibility was high among those accepting Alight, 75% (n = 6) reported a positive impact on mood, 50% (n = 4) experienced a positive impact on activity, and 50% (n = 4) gooduser-friendliness. The adoption was high with daily use or use several times a week reported by 63% (n = 5). Obstacles emerged when updating the application in homes without wireless Wi-Fi, and some participants were unfamiliar with using touchscreens.

CONCLUSION

The feasibility and adoption of the application were high and accepting dyads did not differ on demographic and clinical variables from those not reached. This suggests a high potential for utilization in dementia care. This study contributes methodologically to the field of participatory design and mHealth interventions by demonstrating a specific design approach that throughout the process successfully involved researchers, industry partners, health care practitioners, and end users.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04043364.

Music Therapy and Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review from 2015-2020

Parkinson's disease can be approached from various points of view, one of which is music therapy-a complementary therapy to a pharmacological one. This work aims to compile the scientific evidence published in the last five years (2015-2020) on the effects of music therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease. A systematic review has been performed using the Web of Science and Scopus databases with the descriptors "music therapy" and "Parkinson's disease". A total of 281 eligible articles were identified, which, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were reduced to 58 papers. The results display a great diversity of evidence, confirming positive effects on various spheres. All mentioned patients with Parkinson's disease had experienced different music therapy programs. Some studies focused on the motor component, which can be addressed through listening, body rhythm, and rhythmic auditory stimulation. Other studies confirm effects on communication, swallowing, breathing, and the emotional aspect through programs that focus on singing, either individually or in groups, in order to improve the quality of life of people with PD. It was concluded that music therapy programs can achieve improvements in various areas of patients with Parkinson's.

How Do Music Activities Affect Health and Well-Being? A Scoping Review of Studies Examining Psychosocial Mechanisms

Background: This scoping review analyzed research about how music activities may affect participants' health and well-being. Primary outcomes were measures of health (including symptoms and health behaviors) and well-being. Secondary measures included a range of psychosocial processes such as arousal, mood, social connection, physical activation or relaxation, cognitive functions, and identity. Diverse music activities were considered: receptive and intentional music listening; sharing music; instrument playing; group singing; lyrics and rapping; movement and dance; and songwriting, composition, and improvisation. Methods: Nine databases were searched with terms related to the eight music activities and the psychosocial variables of interest. Sixty-three papers met selection criteria, representing 6,975 participants of all ages, nationalities, and contexts. Results: Receptive and intentional music listening were found to reduce pain through changes in physiological arousal in some studies but not others. Shared music listening (e.g., concerts or radio programs) enhanced social connections and mood in older adults and in hospital patients. Music listening and carer singing decreased agitation and improved posture, movement, and well-being of people with dementia. Group singing supported cognitive health and well-being of older adults and those with mental health problems, lung disease, stroke, and dementia through its effects on cognitive functions, mood, and social connections. Playing a musical instrument was associated with improved cognitive health and well-being in school students, older adults, and people with mild brain injuries via effects on motor, cognitive and social processes. Dance and movement with music programs were associated with improved health and well-being in people with dementia, women with postnatal depression, and sedentary women with obesity through various cognitive, physical, and social processes. Rapping, songwriting, and composition helped the well-being of marginalized people through effects on social and cultural inclusion and connection, self-esteem and empowerment. Discussion: Music activities offer a rich and underutilized resource for health and well-being to participants of diverse ages, backgrounds, and settings. The review provides preliminary evidence that particular music activities may be recommended for specific psychosocial purposes and for specific health conditions.

Planting the SEED: A model to describe the functions of music in reminiscence therapy

Music-assisted reminiscence therapy involves the use of music, in any form, to prompt and augment the recollection of autobiographical memories and therapeutic reframing of the meaning of one's life and experiences. The functions of music in reminiscence therapy remains unclear. Drawing on interdisciplinary research in music therapy, psychology, sociology, gerontology, and neuroscience, this paper proposes a theoretical model for understanding the multiple functions of music when used in reminiscence therapy, and describes how music-assisted reminiscence therapy might be used to improve the wellbeing of older people. The SEED model proposes that music, when used together with reminiscence interventions, helps to: 1) summon autobiographical memories; 2) evoke strong emotional reactions; 3) elicit physiological responses; and 4) define identity. Evidence for the four proposed functions of music in reminiscence interventions is presented. The SEED model expands on previous research and theory on music and reminiscence, neural and cognitive processing, and the therapeutic use of music. The SEED model maps the benefits and indicators for the use of music in reminiscence therapy and provides a blueprint for research to test the purported benefits of using music to enhance reminiscence therapy.

Music-based techniques and related devices in neurorehabilitation: a scoping review

Introduction:The music as a powerful, and versatile stimulus for the brain, is at the date sometimes used in neurorehabilitation and proposed as a promising complementary strategy provided in combination with other therapy in individuals with neurological disorders. Different techniques and devices have been developed in the field of the music-based neurorehabilitation.Areas covered:This scoping review analyzes the current scientific literature concerning the different techniques and devices used in the music-supported neurorehabilitation, also focusing on the devices used in music-based therapies in patients with neurological disorders: 46 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included.Expert opinion:Included studies, highlight the potentiality and the versatility of the music-based therapy in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders. The variety of existing techniques allow to applied the music-based therapy in different situations and conditions. Moreover, the wide range of used devices that ranging from the simple musical instruments to the more advanced technologies, allows to develop customized exercises based on the needs of the patient. This review may be considered as a starting point to better design future RCTs that would investigate the effectiveness of music therapy on neurological disorders.

Human Body Rhythms in the Development of Non-Invasive Methods of Closed-Loop Adaptive Neurostimulation

The creation and improvement of non-invasive closed-loop brain stimulation technologies represent an exciting and rapidly expanding field of neuroscience. To identify the appropriate way to close the feedback loop in adaptive neurostimulation procedures, it was previously proposed to use on-line automatic sensory stimulation with the parameters modulated by the patient's own rhythmical processes, such as respiratory rate, heart rate, and electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms. The current paper aims to analyze several recent studies demonstrating further development in this line of research. The advantages of using automatic closed-loop feedback from human endogenous rhythms in non-invasive adaptive neurostimulation procedures have been demonstrated for relaxation assistance, for the correction of stress-induced functional disturbances, for anxiety management, and for the cognitive rehabilitation of an individual. Several distinctive features of the approach are noted to delineate its further development.