Stroke Recovery Improves with Music

Stroke victims face a long and difficult road to recovery, and many of
them suffer from irreparable residual effects. Researchers around the
globe are searching for treatment options that improve recovery in
stroke patients, but to date no magic bullet has arrived. Currently,
patients are treated with a multimodal approach, including physical
therapy, occupational therapy and counseling as needed.

One simple thing that may aid in the recovery of mental function
following stroke is listening to music. According to a recent study,
stroke victims who listened to music for 1 to 2 hours daily showed
significant improvement in certain mental functions than those that
did not.

When compared to patients who listed to audio books or nothing at all,
patients who listened to music had significantly better performance on
tasks of attention and verbal memory. Patients in the music group also
reported lower levels of depression.

Previous studies have proven that healthy individuals learn more
effectively when listening to music they enjoy. Studies also showed
music to be beneficial in patients with dementia, schizophrenia,
autism, dyslexia and depression.

The reason for this widespread beneficial effect of music on cognition
is a mystery. Some have hypothesized that improvements in mental
function are due to the mood-enhancing and stress-lowering effects of
music. Others point to the complexity of neural circuits that are
activated when listening to music. Music requires activity of
emotional, cognitive and memory centers in both brain hemispheres.
Stimulation of divergent neural networks may have beneficial effects
on these pathways by as yet unknown mechanisms.

The great thing about music is that is cheap and easily accessible. In
the most recent study, stroke patients were asked to listen to music
of their choosing for 1 to 2 hours a day. Almost any patient will be
able to participate in this simple plan.

Reference

Sarkamo, T., Tervaniemi, M., Laitinen, S., Forsblom, A., Soinila, S.,
Mikkonen, M., Autti, T., Silvennoinen, H.M., Erkkila, J., Laine, M.,
Peretz, I., Hietanen, M. (2008). Music listening enhances cognitive
recovery and mood after middle cerebral artery stroke. Brain, 131(3),
866-876. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awn013

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Source: Change This

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Being creative or artistic doesn’t mean you know how to draw or play an instrument. Being creative is a way of thinking, a way of viewing the world.

Creative people use the RIGHT side of their brains more than the LEFT. Take the test and find out if your brain is RIGHT for a creative career.

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