Musical therapy has been shown to have an impact on improving a variety of neurological difficulties following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research has shown that it has effects on sensory, motor, perceptive-cognitive and emotional responses. Targeting specific behaviors can be directed through the type of musical intervention as the type of musical therapy can be manipulated to meet each member’s needs.
Many TBI members suffer from different forms of aphasia, namely Broca’s aphasia and Wernicke’s aphasia. Broca’s aphasia influences language production whereas Wernicke’s aphasia effects language comprehension. In terms of neuroanatomy, language is typically localized on the left hemisphere, however prosody – the musicality of language – is localized on the right hemisphere. Thus, singing is often retained following a TBI even if language production/comprehension is negatively impacted.
Targeting language complications is primarily done through melodic intonation therapy, where the therapists will sing simple words or phrases with familiar tunes. With continuous repetition and practice, members have been shown to change this singing speech into more standard speech i.e. non-melodic. The constant repetition is able to strengthen the connections between different neurons and help these member’s reinforce neural networks.
As TBIs can also result in motor impairments, a type of musical intervention known as rhythmic auditory stimulation is used to address these damages. Members are asked to move along with the rhythm of certain tunes or beats. This acts somewhat like a metronome and encourages the members to improve gait as well as speed. Walking is regarded as part of a central pattern generator which are neural circuits that produce rhythmic, coordinated movements. Therefore, reinforcing a rhythmically controlled function with auditory stimulation helps members to synchronize and align movements.
Holistically, music is a form of non-verbal communication and with various instruments, modes of creating harmonies and innovative capacities, members are able to focus on strengthening connections and building confidence. Being involved in the creation of music additionally requires necessary cognitive functions that are sometimes impacted by TBIs. For example, members must utilize their working memory to retain tunes and patterns. Then planning is also required to try and make sense of the music or even anticipate what might sound good. Developing these skills in addition to a wide variety of others, promotes neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is especially important following a TBI, because it allows members to re-develop patterns and train their brains in a productive manner. Overall, music therapy has many positive benefits through different interventions for TBI members.
Sources
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1878875020323329 https://www.neuroskills.com/about/news-and-events/what-is-aphasia/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2780359/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8801707/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/central-pattern-generator
Comments