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Effects of music on the brain research paper
Effects of music on the brain research paper
An essay on music and the brain
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Humans encounter many physical changes over the course of a lifetime (Poinier & Herman, 2014). The most common changes take place in the brain and nervous system. The brain adapts to changes in the weight of the brain, the extent of its nerve network, and decreasing blood flow by developing new innervation distribution patterns. Music is a powerful tool used to help older adults adjust to significant changes in their physical and mental state.
Music produces both emotional and physical responses (Clair & Memmott, 2008). It aids and improves social interaction, and provides effective communication and emotional expression. Music stimulates associations and triggers reminiscence. When experiencing recent inactivity, discomfort, and changes in
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activities of daily living, older adults may experience depression (Clair & Memmott, 2008). Music serves as a distraction from depression and can stabilize mood. The physical and mental state of older adults with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) is severely damaged (Tamplin, 2015). Only external conditions cause TBI, such as being struck in the head by a hard object. Neurological music therapy is defined as, “The therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory, and motor dysfunctions due to neurological disease of the human nervous system” (Hurt-Thaut & Johnson, 2015). There are different types of neurologic music therapy. These types include neurologic rehabilitation and neuropediatric, neuropsychiatric, neurogeriatric, and neurodevelopmental therapy. Rehabilitation, development, and maintenance of functional behaviors are NMT interventions. Movement, speech and language, and cognition are likely to experience positive changes through the use of NMT (Hurt-Thaut & Johnson, 2015). Music provides motivation to practice frustrating, exhausting, and painful neurorehabilitation tasks (Tamplin, 2015). Older adults with traumatic brain injuries can benefit from a neurologic approach to music therapy; understanding the anatomy and physiology of the brain will improve a music therapist’s ability to treat causes and symptoms of TBI’s. When the brain experiences physical impact with another object, it results in traumatic brain injury (National Association on State Head Injury Administrators, 2010). The injury may be either a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. A closed head injury results from the head forcefully striking an object. A penetrating head injury results from an object passing through the skull and also penetrating the brain. When the injury occurs, loss of consciousness is common a common symptom but is not a requirement for developing a TBI. “Every year 10,000 older adults (persons age 65 and older) die, 55,000 are hospitalized, and 80,000 visit the Emergency Department as a result of a TBI” (National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, 2010). Falls and motor vehicle crashes are the most common activities that result in TBI in older adults. The gravity of the injury and resulting symptoms depend largely on the location and magnitude of the injury. TBI can cause symptoms relating to physical, behavioral, or cognitive abilities. Pre-injury aptitudes, and the character of the affected individual may also cause symptoms. Recovery from TBI depends the most on age of the affected injury (Goleburn & Golden, 2001). The older the individual, the less likely they are to fully recover. Bruising, damage to brain cells, and torn tissues are common effects of a closed head injury (National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, 2010). It is also common to experience bleeding, swelling, and blood clots that result in lack of oxygen to the brain. Over time, the physical damage of a closed head injury will typically heal. Permanent tearing of cellular structures, damage to blood vessels, and damage to protective tissues are common effects of a penetrating head injury. Once damage has occurred in a penetrating head injury, it cannot be reversed. Cognitive impairment is a significant symptom of traumatic brain injuries (National Association of Sate Head Injury Administrators, 2010). Sensory losses (e.g. speech, hearing, taste, smell, vision), nausea, dizziness, spatial disorientation, difficulty focusing, balance problems, and emotional problems are all common symptoms of TBI. The symptoms of TBI result from which specific areas of the brain where affected in the injury. The neurological music therapy foundations are scientific in nature (Hurt-Thaut & Johnson, 2015).
This means that both the musical and nonmusical functions of music therapy stem from previous and ongoing scientific research. A neurologic music therapist must have an extensive understanding of anatomy and physiology, specifically regarding the brain and nervous system. The rational scientific mediating model (R-SMM) informs music therapists of the functions of different brain systems (Hurt-Thaut & Johnson, 2015). Knowledge of different brain systems allows the music therapist to apply the methods and interventions that will provide the client with the highest chance of recovery. Without developing scientific knowledge and an understanding of different brain structures, effective music therapy cannot be …show more content…
accomplished. In order for neurologic music therapists to provide effective treatment for older adults with traumatic brain injuries, they must first understand the anatomy and physiology of the brain. They cannot address a problem without first knowing its cause. To better understand the symptoms of the client, music therapists must first understand what each specific part of the brain is responsible for. Symptoms of TBI can range from memory loss, to the inability to balance while sitting upright or walking, to the inability to see visual stimuli. Each symptom needs to be addressed in a different way depending on which brain system was affected in the injury. There is a reliable map on the human brain of the way individuals’ process music (Peretz & Zatorre, 2005). Without this reliable map, neurological music therapists would not be able to connect music to brain patterns. Rhythm in music works with the brain to affect the outcomes of neurologic music therapy (Hurt-Thaut & Johnson, 2015).
NMT focuses on the precise non-music application of skills when combining non-music assessments, movements, and behaviors in music therapy. NMT results in significant improvements of motor, communicative, cognitive, physical, and social skills. Interventions used in NMT include Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS), Pattern Sensory Enhancement (PSE), Therapeutic Instrumental Music Performance (TIMP), Musical Speech Stimulation (MUSTIM), and Rhythmic Speech Cuing (RSC) (Hurt-Thaut & Johnson, 2015). Voluntary movement can be heavily influenced by rhythm. When the motor system and auditory system work together, they can create anticipated and consecutive changes in body functions. NMT is more concerned with the outcome of the therapy than the process used to achieve it. As a result, many music therapists use NMT specifically for clinical studies and
interventions. The Center for Biomedical Research in Music, Colorado State University and the Veterans Affairs Black Hills Health Care System, Mental Health Service conducted a study centered on neurologic music therapy and cognitive rehabilitation (CR) (Thaut, Gardiner, Holmberg, Horwitz, Kent, Andrews, Donelan, & McIntosh, 2009). The main goal of the researchers was to effectively show that NMT and CR positively impact the cognitive functioning and emotional adjustment of older adults suffering from TBI. Results from this study show evidence of positive developments in executive functioning and emotional adjustment, as well as decreased aggression (Thaut et al., 2009). Decreased depression, sensation seeking, and anxiety were also evident in the results of the study. Neurologic music therapy is an essential part of recovering from a traumatic brain injury. It helps older adults to regain voluntary movement using gross and fine motor skills, and improves emotional stability and mental awareness during this difficult time of healing. Neurologic music therapy is the most effective form of music therapy because in order to create a treatment plan, you must first understand the source of the problem.
Music connects to the emotions present
Music therapy works because of its three fundamentals: the application of systematic thinking through music theory, the creation of an individualized treatment plan, as well as the patie...
Music therapy is defined as “a systematic process of intervention wherein the therapist helps the client to promote health, using music experiences and the relationships that develop through them as dynamic forces of change.” (Bruscia). Wilber’s quadrants breaks down major psychological theories and music therapy models into four quadrants (Abrams). These areas are the individual interior, individual exterior, collective interior, and the collective exterior (Abrams). The individual internal focuses on the therapeutic goals and the inner psychological process of the client (Dr. A. Meadows, personal communication, Sept 2014). The individual exterior focuses on skills and behaviors where the goals
Music therapy involves the clinical use of music interventions in order to alleviate pain, improve cognitive functioning, reduce social anxiety, and encourage overall physical and mental well-being (American Music Therapy Association). Techniques often involve individuals actively participating in music therapy through singing, comp¬¬osing, or listening to music. Evidence based studies have demonstrated that music therapy can elicit both a physiological and psychological response, resulting in cognitive and behavioral benefits that make it an ideal therapeutic tool in handling stress in normal daily activities as well as in the health care setting.
B., Gfeller, K. E., & Thaut, M. H. (2008). An Introduction to Music Therapy: Theory and
Music therapy isn’t the same as other therapy. Music therapy uses music to help establish a connection of ...
I’m writing my paper on Music Therapy, and how music affects the mind and body, to treat various illnesses. Music therapy is the prescribed use of music under the direction of specially trained therapists to influence changes in negative conditions and behavior. It accomplishes this by maintaining and restoring mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health .One type of theory is the idea that music, movement, and speech are inseparable. Music evokes unconscious thoughts and feelings, which in turn expand self-awareness. Music therapy is a powerful and non-invasive form of sensory stimulation which provokes responses due to the familiarity, predictability, and feelings of security associated with it. In some medical settings such as mental health services, it has been used to decrease patient’s perception of pain, anxiety and depression. ICU patients listening to music showed a significant decrease in blood pressure. It has been shown to calm the patient and to relax their mind and body. Music eases the burden on the arteries and nerves through relaxation. Du...
It is true that music has a compact link to our emotions. Music assists people to overcome the bad situations in their life, just like it did for Sonny, the barmaid, or some other people in the Harlem. Music has a tremendous effect on people’s minds because it makes them feel relaxed and comfortable, especially with the soft classical music. It helps distressed people stay smooth and peaceful. In fact, music is a remarkable way to ease stress.
Music Therapy is the use of music to treat a range of conditions either physical or mental (Questia, 2017). It can be used to help a range of conditions such as: autism, mental health (for example anxiety and depression), learning disabilities and neuro disabilities (British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT), 2017). This could be proven useful due to its variety of conditions it can help with, it is a very different idea to help people and music in general is very enjoyable and uplifting. It can also be useful for it is a way people can express themselves, there are many cases in which people do not know how to communicate with others or do not like talking about their conditions or how they feel and communication is very important. However,
What is Music Therapy | What is Music Therapy? | American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). (2014). Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://www.musictherapy.org/about/musictherapy The American Music Therapy Association website provides information pertaining to what music therapy is, who benefits from it, and how it works. The website discusses the purpose of music therapy being to use music to help people reach goals through relationship with the therapist and the unique music therapy program. It states that music therapy is able to help people with all types of needs, is individualized to the specific client needs, and is a healthy way for people to communicate. The American Music Therapy Association website promotes music therapy and supports the education of music therapists recognized as members.
Music helps people remember things like our mother’s voice when she sang you to sleep when we were children. Music takes us back to when we were a little kid. We can hear a song on the radio and it will make us think about that happy moment. Music has a big impact on our memories. (Lyon, Suzanne)
Music is one of the few things that has remained constant through the centuries this world has existed. Not only does music provide entertainment, it also has several effects linked to it. Music allows emotions of happiness and sadness to arise. From those emotions, physical effects, negative or positive, can occur. Music has a profound effect on the emotional, social, intellectual, and physical aspects of a person.
Music and the Brain. (n.d.). Music and the Brain. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://tdlc.ucsd.edu/research/highlights/rh-music-and-brain-2011.html
The first theoretical statement of the middle-range MMM theory is that music produces the psychological response of altered mood leading to improved health outcomes (Murrock & Higgins, 2009). Based on the musical elements of rhythm, melody, pitch, harmony, and interval there are psychological responses that are elicited once music passes through the auditory cortex of the brain to process it (Murrock & Higgins, 2009). The right hemisphere of the brain helps with response and cognitive recognition of music and in turn is able to alter the mood, leading to various health outcomes (Murrock & Higgins, 2009). In a stu...
Music has incredible effects on the brain and body! Ever since the beginning of time, music has been around. It can influence the way a person thinks and behaves, and also social interactions. Teens are more susceptible to this (Revatto 1). Music can be used in therapy by helping people with depression, and can even be a more natural way to heal the body (“How Music...” 1). In some cases, songs and melodies can help or make diseases worse. Music is a powerful thing and can affect your brain and many other things in your body in numerous ways.