To this day, researchers still aren’t quite sure when humans sang their first songs and played their first musical tunes. Some believe that Homo sapiens created the first instruments, while others argue that Neanderthals were making bone flutes long before we arrived on the scene. Whatever the case may be, music may have been a major part of human culture for as many as 100,000 years.
Over the course of this far-reaching period of time, music has become a central part of the way we think, feel, and socialize. We have evolved to inherently appreciate and understand how music works, and our brains feature multiple areas that help us process the complex rhythms and patterns of various songs. Today, researchers have developed an entirely new branch of neurological medicine that takes advantage of the human brain’s natural propensity for music and uses it to address various issues.
What is Neurologic Music Therapy?
Also known as “NMT,” Neurologic Music Therapy uses elements of music to treat various issues related to the brain. This is a standardized, evidence-based technique practiced by qualified Neurologic Music Therapists. These therapists study music therapy in a recognized university program before becoming certified through the National Certification Board for Music Therapists.
The goal is to improve functional abilities that may have been impaired due to brain injury, and these include speech, cognition, and physical movement. NMT is not to be confused with “normal” music therapy, which is less evidence-based and treats patients on a purely emotional level instead of using a more scientific, proven approach.
Why Neurological Music Therapy is So Effective
Music has a very unique effect on the human brain, as it simultaneously “activates” many different processing centers. Evidence has shown that rhythmic patterns can be utilized to create new connections in the brain called neuropathways. Therapists use NMT interventions to help build these neuropathways with various music-based techniques.
This has the potential to radically transform a patient’s life, making them more productive and functional as they deal with a range of issues. Although NMT can be effective for brain injury patients, it can also help individuals with neurological disorders such as Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, developmental delay, and many others.
What’s Happening in the World of Music Medicine Today?
Today, The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy recognizes 20 different standardized clinical techniques for sensorimotor training, speech and language training, and cognitive training. New methods and techniques are being explored every day, and the field is rapidly developing. NMT is also being integrated into general neurorehabilitation programs across the nation at a stunning pace.
At the Fort Carson Warrior Recovery Center, music therapy is being used to help treat veterans with traumatic brain injury. Alan Harvey is an Emeritus Professor at UWA’s School of Human Sciences, and he has been exploring the applications of NMT for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. According to him, the inability of Parkinson’s patients to initiate movement is a bit like “Trying to drive with the handbrake on.” He has found that “Somehow, music unlocks and takes the handbrake off for a while … it starts reactivating the circuits in the brain that have been difficult to access.”
Professor Felicity Baker, the Head of Music Therapy at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, reminds us that music is inherently linked with movement: “[Humans] use rhythm when we’re walking. So, we use music to structure that and help people who may have lost that coordination, to regain that coordination.”
In addition, music can help trigger memories and remind people of their inner identity. This has proven to be especially useful in helping patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. One study found that Alzheimer’s patients were able to remember lines more effectively if they were sung to them rather than spoken to them.
Final Thoughts
As amazing as Neurological Music Therapy is, this approach is still very new in the medical world. Although treatment techniques have already been heavily standardized, there is undoubtedly much more to learn in this exciting field. The human brain remains one of biology’s greatest mysteries, but we may be one step closer to unlocking many of its secrets with the help of music.
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