THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2023 MUSIC THERAPY 2

 THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2023 MUSIC THERAPY 2

I started looking at music therapy yesterday.  

Stop back and think a second.  “Music calms the savage beast”.  Have you ever pulled up to a stop light and the convertible next to you is blasting its music for the whole neighborhood to hear.  The driver is obviously enjoying his or her music. When I’m on a long trip, I’ll listen to music (or an audiobook).  

So, music (or at least music we like) can ease pain - according to researchers.  And, music can be very individualistic.  

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Some years ago, researchers suggested that pregnant mothers listen to Mozart (aka classical music) while the baby is in the womb. 

Stanford Health (centered in South Dakota) says:

“A comprehensive review of all available studies found no link between classical music and brain development. Interestingly, infants in one test appeared to recognize music that had frequently been played by the parents during pregnancy. Some studies suggest that children who spend time in a musical pursuit test higher on SATs and reading proficiency exams. Some researchers believe musical training creates new pathways in the brain. 

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Another website suggests:

A number of hypothetical and anecdotal benefits have been attributed to listening to classical music (and other music genres) while in the womb. These benefits have yet to be verified because of the difficulties of studying an unborn baby. They are as follows:

Listening to classical music aids in the development of pathways in the part of the brain that processes spatial reasoning;

Classical music helps to improve memory retention even during the first stages of pregnancy. Some babies have even demonstrated preferences for music and songs that have been played or sung to them by their mother while still in the womb;

Unborn babies develop a fondness or favoritism towards music they have heard. After they are born, they exhibit familiarity with this music, allowing them to relax, improve their mood, or help them fall asleep, especially if it is played to them while in their crib;

Classical music and complex melodies have a positive impact on their mental well-being. These babies when born are said to be healthier, smarter, and happier. In contrast, fetuses subjected to loud music, such as rock, heavy metal, or rap, are jarred by the thundering drum and bass tracks and discordant melodies. When born, these babies have low birth weights and may be born prematurely. Some may even suffer from high-frequency hearing loss. They also tend to be moody, irritable, and get startled easily;

(Karen adds - oh no - no heavy metal or negative rap music for babies)

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Researchers from the University of Utah Pain Research Center evaluated the potential benefits of music for diverting psychological responses to experimental pain stimuli. They hypothesized that music may divert cognitive focus from pain. If true, the key to successful pain control from this method would be the degree of engagement by the patient in the diversion task.

One hundred forty-three subjects were evaluated for the study. They were instructed to listen to music tracks, follow the melodies, and identify deviant tones. During the music tasks, they were given safe, experimental pain shocks with fingertip electrodes.

The findings showed that the increasing music-task demand reliably decreased central arousal from the pain stimuli. Music helps reduce pain by activating sensory pathways that compete with pain pathways, stimulating emotional responses, and engaging cognitive attention. Music, therefore, provided meaningful intellectual and emotional engagement to help reduce pain.

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Reading between the lines.  The subjects were given pain shocks - but when listening for specific melodies, tones, and rhythms, the pain was less than without the music.

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“When the body encounters something painful — you step on a tack, for instance — electrochemical signals travel from the site of the injury to the spinal cord and onto the brain. There, several brain regions work together to process pain signals — ultimately resulting in the conscious experience of, “Ow, that hurts!”

“In contrast, brain scans reveal that listening to pleasing music increases activity in parts of the brain's reward center. 

“Pleasant music triggers the release of the brain chemical dopamine,” explains Robert Zatorre, of McGill University, who studies emotion and music. This change “is strongly associated with other rewarding and motivating stimuli, such as food, sex, and certain addictive drugs,” Zatorre adds. Scientists believe that music’s ability to make you feel good may be one way it helps to alleviate pain.

Studies show that playing music for patients before, during, and after medical procedures can help lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and stress, ease muscle tension, and more. 

It is okay to take time to listen to music. 

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I’m going to do an experiment.  One of the patients I see in my part-time job at a senior center is a 97-year-old woman who rarely speaks.  I have heard she had a mild stroke which affected her speech area. Yes, she can speak  - but if “wanting” to speak isn’t there, she just doesn’t speak.  

One of my activities with her to get to speak is to roll dice and she tells me the total.  A similar one is to give a nursery rhyme but let her tell me the last words. If I say “Jack and Jill went up the “.  She will add the word “hill”.

I asked her son what music his mother listened to, and I’m creating a Pandora playlist with Frank Sinatra, Diana Shore, Sammy Davis, and Harry Belafonte and see if this changes her mood.  Lately, she rarely smiles or frowns.  Maybe I can affect her mood by playing music that she likes.

I also play Checkers with this lady.  The next time I’m with her, I’ll try the playlist while we are playing checkers!!!

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Music and the brain

The left side of our brain processes rhythm, allowing music therapists to use drumming and other rhythmic stimulation to help with initiation, articulation, and fluency of speech. 

The right side of the brain processes melody. For individuals who struggle with communication skills on the left side of the brain, music therapists may be able to use singing and melody to activate a different set of neural pathways to teach speech through the right side of the brain.

The amazing thing about music is that it activates the entire brain. 

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From a personal point of view, I have my own personal playlist with my “Upbeat Classics” on my iPhone.  If I am walking at the local community recreation center, I will be conducting music as I walk.  Walking is therapy, music is therapy, and conducting the music is also therapy.  

So, I looked at Sleep and Music Therapy this week.  I’ll keep looking at information that I find interesting!!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

MUSIC CAN ALSO TRANSFORM

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, JUNE 22, 2023