The Score Magazine October 2019 | Page 23

THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS THROUGH MUSIC ENHANCING COGNITIVE RESERVE, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN Music and its relation in dynamics are closely associated with the human brain. We are born with pro-exposure of music in the form of rhythmic perception while we are in our mother's womb. This early association is connected with the sense of rhythm in the form of time signature evaluation even before learning any form of percussive instruments. A common example is speed, distance, intensity and time. We have a built-in mechanism to quantize even before we learn music. Music is associated with the pleasure centres of the brain called the dopaminergic receptor region located in the Substantia nigra of the brain. It is a very unique feedback system connected to the brain at the auditory cortex level on both sides of the brain located just adjacent to the ears. At a deeper level, it is connected to the limbic system of the brain which is near the forehead which finally leads to the inner regions of the brain such as the amygdala which is for fight or flight response or simpler terms the impulse zone of the brain. This complex feedback system has its functionality associated with the reward-based response where a pleasant tone is reward generator and dissonance is a turn-off or harsh stimulus. which account for higher executive functions. When all these cognitive functions are put together, it forms a vital performance feature of the brain called “The Cognitive Reserve” which determines the neuroplasticity of the brain through repetition for engagement and learning. One of the most effective therapies according to recent studies is music therapy which is non-pharmacological or invasive in nature. Music therapy has significantly changed prophylactic intervention with respect to complex mental health conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Dementia, Cerebral palsy, Depression, ADHD and many more. Music therapy is analogous, and isomorphic in nature with its protocols. It has evolved to generate efficacious results in the clinical sector. Many hospitals are apparently using music therapy and also engaging music therapist for cases such as traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s and more. Although some the pathways associated are still being researched, it is important to understand that music therapy and sound therapy have critical solutions to chronic mental health and neurological conditions. References THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS THROUGH MUSIC Music in therapeutic approach has the ability to stimulate the hippocampus in bringing back stored memory indices in conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Hence the perception of music and its dynamics are deeply associated with cognitive functions such as memory, attention, recall feedback systems, judgement, decision-making abilities, spatial orientation and processing dynamics https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618810/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC6022981/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC4074275/#R9 https://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3814522/ Author: Prof B.Sai Kiran Kumar Consultant neurofeedback trainer BCIA USA, B.Shivani , Psychologist and certified Neurofeedback trainer A child with Cerebral Palsy being brain mapped A Boy with Vision difficulties being brain mapped An adult with suspected Dementia being brain mapped Brain activity during thinking and processing information Brain activity live visualization Brain wave activity The Score Magazine highonscore.com 21