When my grandmother had a stroke, I had the honour of caring for her. During this time, I realized that her memory, speech, and motor functioning were affected. I did not have formal training in music therapy, but I would often sing with her. I noticed that she may not be able to remember how to write or prepare a meal for herself, but she did remember all of the lyrics to the songs. The songs seemed to give her an opportunity to reminisce. Eventually, I did start working with people recovering from strokes when studying music therapy. I learned how music engagement specifically can support their recovery.
The brain is an organ shrouded in mystery. Some say we only use ten percent of our brain, but current neurological research using fMRI scans shows that all of the brain is in use all the time. What is mysterious is understanding the puzzle that is neural circuitry. Within the three-pound brain, there are roughly 100 billion neurons firing at a given time. Neurons are these cells that conduct electricity, and even communicate using more than 40 different types of neurotransmitters. Although we may use all of our brain, there is still lots of mystery when it comes down to the specifics as to how the brain is influenced. Some key activities that help your brain function is exercise, getting enough nutrition, and keeping your brain stimulated, by challenging it with opportunities to solve problems. This is where music comes in. Since the 1990’s music and neuroscience started a unique love affair. Music Therapy was changed because its potential grew. Not only could it be used for psychological, social, and emotional needs, but it could also be used for neurologic and physiological needs too.
Most research has been done on individuals or populations who suffered a brain injury and either maintained or lost aspects of their musical skills. This research gave insight as to what parts of the brain are being used when engaging in music. Music has been shown to be able to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain, but it is dependent on the task. For instance, the right hemisphere of the brain is stimulated when the task includes recognizing melodies, pitch, timbre, music performance, and emotional responses to music. The left brain was stimulated primarily when rhythm was involved or when reading music, and naming notes and pieces.
“Music is a product of the human brain. However, the brain that engages in music is also changed by engaging in music.” (Handbook of Neurologic Music Therapy, 2014, M. H. Thaut, G.C. Mcintosh, V Hoemberg)
It can now be seen that music not only influences musical abilities within the brain but also non-musical activities such as speech, emotional regulation, motor functioning, and cognition. Key aspects of music such as rhythm, melody, and performance can be used to support individuals recovering from a variety of medical needs. A great example of this is the approach of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT). This is an approach that gives, already certified music therapists, a series of twenty standardized interventions that utilize music specifically to recover speech, cognition, and motor functioning. I took the training in 2020 and am grateful that I have it. I find the approach very useful, especially when working with people who have neurologic conditions.
Another common understanding most music therapists have is that music can have a direct effect on the nervous system, heart rate, and respiration. We know this based on the ISO principle. This principle states that if you match the client’s initial mood with the music, you can shift the client’s mood to a more optimal state. This same principle can be used for biological needs too. For instance, if someone’s heart rate is pulsing rapidly, I may listen to it, match it rhythmically, and then slow down the pulse by slowing down the rhythm. If the person was hooked up to biofeedback monitors, you would most likely see the heart rate slowing down on the monitor. This same technique can be used for respiration. In NMT, another technique used is TIMP or Therapeutic Instrumental Music Performance. This intervention can be adapted to improve respiration, by giving the client opportunity to play instruments that require breath. We know music has an effect because it initially, regulates the nervous system which will affect the rest of the body.
Music is a powerful resource. Humans have known its healing power intuitively, but now scientific research is providing us with a deeper understanding. Music not only affects the heart, and the soul, but now we understand how it affects the brain and body. It is exciting to see what is to come!