Everyone has the ability to respond to music, and music therapy uses this awesome connection to facilitate positive results that medical science cannot guarantee otherwise.

We live in the era of advanced technology, in which medical science cannot cure the diseases alone.

However, this can be done through the engagement in live musical interaction between a patient and a therapist.

The effects of music on health can be analyzed today on several levels, from cognitive functions to emotional experiences, to relationships among individuals, to social and cultural practices.

Recently, music therapy has been used in medicine, health care, education and social welfare. Furthermore, neuroscientists encourage the continued interaction between musicians and scientists.

A music therapy program is a general approach which allows the patients to enhance their

• self-knowledge;
• social skills;
• verbal and non-verbal communications;
• emotional and body awareness;
• self-confidence and integration.

 

1. Understanding Brain Functions

 

As a direct result of advances made in brain imaging technology music therapy leads to improved understanding of brain functions.

It can even alter brain functions because neural circuitry is highly adaptable to changes in the environment, a characteristic known as plasticity.

Some changes to the brain resulting from music exposure are transient, but extensive engagement with music may lead to long-lasting changes.

Music therapy is used to stimulate brain functions including movement, cognition, language, emotion and sensory perception.

Brain imaging studies have shown that neural activities associated with listening to music go beyond the auditory cortex and involve a wide range of bilateral frontal, temporal, parietal and subarachnoid networks.

These include attention, semantic processing, memory functions as well as limbic and paralimbic brain regions related to emotional processing.

 

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2. Neural Processing of Music

 

Musical experiences are multimodal which include at least hearing, vision, cognition, memory and motor systems.

Music activates the right side of the brain which is parallel with the left side of the brain that becomes activated during speech reading.

Modern imaging suggests that centers of language and music expression in the brain are not isolated and have some important and common neural processing aspects.

 

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Music plays a very important role in cognitive rehabilitation (CR), especially, in neurological disorders.

Communication deficiencies such as lack of understanding, speaking, spoken and written language are also serious problems that can benefit from music therapy too.

Brain injury often results in memory, learning and consciousness impairments. Finally, sensory disorders, neuropathic pain, disinhibition, apathy and unresponsiveness may also occur.

Music therapy is used in many hospitals and clinics in long-term treatments and rehabilitation activities after acute myocardial infarction or cerebral vascular accident (CVA).

 

3. Music for a Better Mental Health

 

Music therapy is an effective psychological therapy in supporting and enabling people with mental health problems to manage their condition.

In psychotherapy, the music occasionally is applied for feeling excitation and helping the patients to recall contents of the subconscious mind.

For some adolescents, the transition to adulthood can be exacerbated by trauma, insecure attachments, disability and social deprivation leading to aggression, depression or self-harming.

Music therapy offers a safe space for young people to explore these issues.

 

4. Active or Passive?

 

One important distinction is between receptive (or passive) and creative (or  active) techniques of administering music therapy.

In receptive music therapy, the patient listens to recorded or live music in order to achieve a desired outcome such as reduced anxiety. It is most appropriate in circumstances where active music participation is not possible or desirable, as in palliative care.

Active music therapy involves creative participation in music making by patients, whether individually or in groups.

Singing is often used because it can help patients with articulation and breath control, improve the oxygen saturation rate, and stimulate language and other regions of the brain.

Playing instruments, in turn, can improve fine and gross motor control, facilitate cooperation and attention, and enhance joint mobility, range of motion, rhythm, balance, strength, and self-esteem.

 

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Conclusion

 

Worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 450 million people have a mental health problem.

Many more people affected by mental health problems could benefit from music therapy if music therapy services are supported to grow and expand.

As human beings, music plays a fundamental role in our identity, culture, heritage and spiritual beliefs. It is a powerful medium that can affect us all deeply.

So, are you ready to explore the completely transforming power of music?

 

Irinel Bogdan