The Therapeutic Effects of Singing in Neurological Disorders

• Published in: Music perception Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 287 - 295
• Main Authors: Wan, Catherine Y., Rüber, Theodor, Hohmann, Anja, Schlaug, Gottfried
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States University of California Press 01.04.2010; University of California Press Books Division
• Subjects: Aphasia; Autism; Autistic disorder; Brain damage; Heart rate; Intervention; Medical treatment; Music; Music therapy; Musical performances; Musical register; Musicians & conductors; Neurological disorders; Parkinson disease; Parkinson's disease; Patients; Quality of life; Singers; Singing; Speech; Stuttering; Vocal music; New York; United States > US
• ISSN: 0730-7829; 1533-8312
• DOI: 10.1525/mp.2010.27.4.287

MUSIC MAKING (PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT OR SINGING)is a multimodal activity that involves the integration of auditory and sensorimotor processes. The ability to sing in humans is evident from infancy, and does not depend on formal vocal training but can be enhanced by training. Given the behavioral similarities between singing and speaking, as well as the shared and distinct neural correlates of both, researchers have begun to examine whether singing can be used to treat some of the speech-motor abnormalities associated with various neurological conditions. This paper reviews recent evidence on the therapeutic effects of singing, and how it can potentially ameliorate some of the speech deficits associated with conditions such as stuttering, Parkinson's disease, acquired brain lesions, and autism. By reviewing the status quo, it is hoped that future research can help to disentangle the relative contribution of factors to why singing works. This may ultimately lead to the development of specialized or "gold-standard" treatments for these disorders, and to an improvement in the quality of life for patients.