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Effects of active music therapy on the normal brain: fMRI based evidence

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the neurophysiological bases of Active Music Therapy (AMT) and its effects on the normal brain. Twelve right-handed, healthy, non-musician volunteers were recruited. The subjects underwent 2 AMT sessions based on the free sonorous-music improvisation using rhythmic and melodic instruments. After these sessions, each subject underwent 2 fMRI scan acquisitions while listening to a Syntonic (SP) and an A-Syntonic (AP) Production from the AMT sessions. A 3 T Discovery MR750 scanner with a 16-channel phased array head coil was used, and the image analysis was performed with Brain Voyager QX 2.8. The listening to SP vs AP excerpts mainly activated: (1) the right middle temporal gyrus and right superior temporal sulcus, (2) the right middle frontal gyrus and in particular the right precentral gyrus, (3) the bilateral precuneus, (4) the left superior temporal sulcus and (5) the left middle temporal gyrus. These results are consistent with the psychological bases of the AMT approach and with the activation of brain areas involved in memory and autobiographical processes, and also in personal or interpersonal significant experiences. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and to explain possible effects of AMT in clinical settings.

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Conflict of Interest

Alfredo Raglio, Caterina Galandra, Luisella Sibilla, Fabrizio Esposito, Francesca Gaeta, Francesco Di Salle, Luca Moro, Irene Carne, Stefano Bastianello, Maurizia Baldi and Marcello Imbriani declare that they have no conflict of interest or financial relationship with the branded music therapy.

Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, and the applicable revisions at the time of the investigation. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Boezio 24, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Alfredo Raglio & Marcello Imbriani

  2. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Pavia, Italy

    Caterina Galandra, Luca Moro, Irene Carne & Maurizia Baldi

  3. Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden

    Luisella Sibilla

  4. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy

    Fabrizio Esposito, Francesca Gaeta & Francesco Di Salle

  5. Department of Nervous System and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Stefano Bastianello

Authors
  1. Alfredo Raglio
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  2. Caterina Galandra
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  3. Luisella Sibilla
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  4. Fabrizio Esposito
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  5. Francesca Gaeta
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  6. Francesco Di Salle
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  7. Luca Moro
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  8. Irene Carne
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  9. Stefano Bastianello
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  10. Maurizia Baldi
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  11. Marcello Imbriani
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Correspondence to Alfredo Raglio.

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Raglio, A., Galandra, C., Sibilla, L. et al. Effects of active music therapy on the normal brain: fMRI based evidence. Brain Imaging and Behavior 10, 182–186 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-015-9380-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-015-9380-x

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