-
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2021Parkinson's disease can be approached from various points of view, one of which is music therapy-a complementary therapy to a pharmacological one. This work aims to... (Review)
Review
Parkinson's disease can be approached from various points of view, one of which is music therapy-a complementary therapy to a pharmacological one. This work aims to compile the scientific evidence published in the last five years (2015-2020) on the effects of music therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease. A systematic review has been performed using the Web of Science and Scopus databases with the descriptors "music therapy" and "Parkinson's disease". A total of 281 eligible articles were identified, which, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were reduced to 58 papers. The results display a great diversity of evidence, confirming positive effects on various spheres. All mentioned patients with Parkinson's disease had experienced different music therapy programs. Some studies focused on the motor component, which can be addressed through listening, body rhythm, and rhythmic auditory stimulation. Other studies confirm effects on communication, swallowing, breathing, and the emotional aspect through programs that focus on singing, either individually or in groups, in order to improve the quality of life of people with PD. It was concluded that music therapy programs can achieve improvements in various areas of patients with Parkinson's.
Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; Humans; Music; Music Therapy; Parkinson Disease; Quality of Life; Singing
PubMed: 34770129
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111618 -
Annals of Clinical and Translational... Nov 2020Previous studies suggest that daily music listening can aid stroke recovery, but little is known about the stimulus-dependent and neural mechanisms driving this effect.... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies suggest that daily music listening can aid stroke recovery, but little is known about the stimulus-dependent and neural mechanisms driving this effect. Building on neuroimaging evidence that vocal music engages extensive and bilateral networks in the brain, we sought to determine if it would be more effective for enhancing cognitive and language recovery and neuroplasticity than instrumental music or speech after stroke.
METHODS
Using data pooled from two single-blind randomized controlled trials in stroke patients (N = 83), we compared the effects of daily listening to self-selected vocal music, instrumental music, and audiobooks during the first 3 poststroke months. Outcome measures comprised neuropsychological tests of verbal memory (primary outcome), language, and attention and a mood questionnaire performed at acute, 3-month, and 6-month stages and structural and functional MRI at acute and 6-month stages.
RESULTS
Listening to vocal music enhanced verbal memory recovery more than instrumental music or audiobooks and language recovery more than audiobooks, especially in aphasic patients. Voxel-based morphometry and resting-state and task-based fMRI results showed that vocal music listening selectively increased gray matter volume in left temporal areas and functional connectivity in the default mode network.
INTERPRETATION
Vocal music listening is an effective and easily applicable tool to support cognitive recovery after stroke as well as to enhance early language recovery in aphasia. The rehabilitative effects of vocal music are driven by both structural and functional plasticity changes in temporoparietal networks crucial for emotional processing, language, and memory.
Topics: Aged; Cerebral Cortex; Cognitive Dysfunction; Connectome; Default Mode Network; Female; Humans; Language; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Music; Music Therapy; Neuropsychological Tests; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Singing; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Temporal Lobe; Verbal Learning
PubMed: 33022148
DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51217 -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Jan 2021Stress and impaired mother-infant bonding during pregnancy can lead to adverse effects for the expectant mother and the unborn child. The present study investigates... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
Stress and impaired mother-infant bonding during pregnancy can lead to adverse effects for the expectant mother and the unborn child. The present study investigates whether a prenatal music and singing intervention can improve maternal well-being as well as mother-infant bonding.
METHODS
A total of 172 pregnant women took part in this prospective, randomised, three-armed (music, singing or control group) study. Depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, maternal well-being and mother-infant bonding were assessed with visual analogue scales and questionnaires before the intervention phase (30th week of gestation) and afterwards (36th week of gestation). Additionally, immediate changes regarding experienced stress and mood from before until after the music and singing interventions were explored with questionnaires as well as saliva samples (for cortisol, alpha-amylase and oxytocin determination).
RESULTS
Regarding immediate effects, both interventions showed positive effects on the emotional state, stress (cortisol) and bonding (oxytocin). Additionally, the singing group showed a larger reduction in cortisol and a larger improvement in valence than the music group. Looking at more prolonged effects, significant effects on general self-efficacy and perceived closeness to the unborn child (measured with a visual analogue scale) were found. No significant effects were revealed for the mother-infant bonding questionnaire and for depressive symptoms.
CONCLUSION
In the present study, promising effects of music and in particular singing on maternal well-being and perceived closeness during pregnancy appeared. Prenatal music and singing interventions could be an easy to implement and effective addition to improve mood and well-being of the expectant mother and support mother-infant bonding.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
DRKS00012822, date of registration: 17.10.2017.
Topics: Adult; Female; Germany; Humans; Infant; Mental Health; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Music; Music Therapy; Object Attachment; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Singing; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 32776296
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-020-05727-8 -
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of... Jan 2020The larynx is a complex organ which has a role in a variety of functions such as phonation, breathing, and swallowing. To research these functions, it is widely accepted... (Review)
Review
The larynx is a complex organ which has a role in a variety of functions such as phonation, breathing, and swallowing. To research these functions, it is widely accepted that in vivo studies provide more anatomically and physiologically relevant findings. However, invasive procedures are generally needed to measure variables such a subglottal pressure, vocal fold tension and stiffness, and cricothyroid muscle stretch. Performing studies using excised larynges is a useful technique which makes it possible to not only measure phonation parameters but control them as well. Early studies using excised larynges mainly focused on controlling specific parameters and mathematical modeling simulations. The use of these studies has helped further research in laryngeal anatomy, imaging techniques, as well as aerodynamic, acoustic, and biomechanical properties. Here, we describe the progress of this research over the past 5 years. The number of accepted animal models has increased and ideas from excised larynx studies are starting to be applied to treatment methods for laryngeal disorders. These experiments are only valid for an excised situation and must continue to be combined with animal experimentation and clinical observations.
Topics: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Computer Simulation; Humans; Laryngectomy; Larynx; Models, Animal; Models, Theoretical; Phonation
PubMed: 30262190
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.07.023 -
The European Respiratory Journal May 2022
Topics: Humans; Lung; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Singing; Thorax
PubMed: 35589115
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02961-2021 -
Journal of Music Therapy Oct 2023The number of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) is growing proportional to our aging population. Although music-based interventions may... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The number of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) is growing proportional to our aging population. Although music-based interventions may offer meaningful support to these individuals, most music therapy research lacks well-matched comparison conditions and specific intervention focus, which limits evaluation of intervention effectiveness and possible mechanisms. Here, we report a randomized clinical crossover trial in which we examined the impact of a singing-based music therapy intervention on feelings, emotions, and social engagement in 32 care facility residents with ADRD (aged 65-97 years), relative to an analogous nonmusic condition (verbal discussion). Both conditions were informed by the Clinical Practice Model for Persons with Dementia and occurred in a small group format, three times per week for two weeks (six 25-minute sessions), with a two-week washout at crossover. We followed National Institutes of Health Behavior Change Consortium strategies to enhance methodological rigor. We predicted that music therapy would improve feelings, positive emotions, and social engagement, significantly more so than the comparison condition. We used a linear mixed model approach to analysis. In support of our hypotheses, the music therapy intervention yielded significant positive effects on feelings, emotions, and social engagement, particularly for those with moderate dementia. Our study contributes empirical support for the use of music therapy to improve psychosocial well-being in this population. Results also highlight the importance of considering patient characteristics in intervention design and offer practical implications for music selection and implementation within interventions for persons with ADRD.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Cross-Over Studies; Dementia; Emotions; Music; Music Therapy; Quality of Life; Singing; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 37220880
DOI: 10.1093/jmt/thad015 -
The European Respiratory Journal May 2022Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. However, PR adherence is generally low, and barriers include... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. However, PR adherence is generally low, and barriers include availability, economic issues, motivation and an inability to attend or perform physical training. Therefore, alternative, evidence-based PR activities are required. Singing may have benefits for quality of life (QoL), respiratory control and well-being in COPD, but the impact on the PR key outcome, physical exercise capacity, is uncertain.
METHODS
In this randomised controlled trial (NCT03280355), we investigated the effectiveness of 10 weeks of PR, including either "Singing for Lung Health" (SLH) training or standard physical exercise training (PExT). The primary outcome was a change in exercise capacity (6-min walk distance (6MWD)) from baseline to post-PR. Secondary outcomes were changes in QoL (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS), lung function, dyspnoea and adherence.
RESULTS
We included 270 COPD patients, and 195 completed the study. Demographics across groups were comparable, and both groups improved significantly in 6MWD and SGRQ score. SLH was non-inferior to PExT in improving 6MWD (mean±sd 13.1±36.3 m 14.1±32.3 m, p=0.81; difference 1.0 m, 95% CI -7.3-9.3 m) with 21.8% and 25.0%, respectively (p=0.57), reaching the 6MWD minimal important difference of 30 m. We found no significant between-group differences concerning SGRQ, HADS, lung function, dyspnoea or adherence.
CONCLUSION
Our study suggests that SLH is non-inferior to PExT in improving 6MWD during a 10-week PR programme. Future studies addressing reproducibility, long-term effects and health economics are needed.
Topics: Dyspnea; Exercise Tolerance; Humans; Lung; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Singing
PubMed: 34625480
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01142-2021 -
Nature Neuroscience Dec 2023Mammalian vocalizations are critical for communication and are produced through the process of phonation, in which expiratory muscles force air through the tensed vocal...
Mammalian vocalizations are critical for communication and are produced through the process of phonation, in which expiratory muscles force air through the tensed vocal folds of the larynx, which vibrate to produce sound. Despite the importance of phonation, the motor circuits in the brain that control it remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified a subpopulation of ~160 neuropeptide precursor Nts (neurotensin)-expressing neurons in the mouse brainstem nucleus retroambiguus (RAm) that are robustly activated during both neonatal isolation cries and adult social vocalizations. The activity of these neurons is necessary and sufficient for vocalization and bidirectionally controls sound volume. RAm Nts neurons project to all brainstem and spinal cord motor centers involved in phonation and activate laryngeal and expiratory muscles essential for phonation and volume control. Thus, RAm Nts neurons form the core of a brain circuit for making sound and controlling its volume, which are two foundations of vocal communication.
Topics: Animals; Male; Sheep; Mice; Vocalization, Animal; Larynx; Neurons; Brain Stem; Phonation; Mammals
PubMed: 37996531
DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01478-2 -
Cognitive Science May 2021Sound symbolism is a non-arbitrary correspondence between sound and meaning. The majority of studies on sound symbolism have focused on consonants and vowels, and the...
Sound symbolism is a non-arbitrary correspondence between sound and meaning. The majority of studies on sound symbolism have focused on consonants and vowels, and the sound-symbolic properties of suprasegmentals, particularly phonation types, have been largely neglected. This study examines the size and shape symbolism of four phonation types: modal and creaky voices, falsetto, and whisper. Japanese speakers heard 12 novel words (e.g., /íbi/, /ápa/) pronounced with the four types of phonation and rated the size and roundedness/pointedness each of the 48 stimuli seemed to represent on seven-point scales. The results showed that phonation types as well as consonantal and vocalic features influenced the ratings. Creaky voice was associated with larger and more pointed images than modal voice, which was in turn associated with larger and more pointed images than whisper. Falsetto was also associated with roundedness but not with smallness. These results shed new light on the acoustic approaches to sound symbolism and suggest the significance of phonation types and other suprasegmental features in the phenomenon.
Topics: Hearing; Humans; Language; Phonation; Sound; Symbolism
PubMed: 34018216
DOI: 10.1111/cogs.12982