Home Institution
Fachhochschule Heidelberg, Fachbereich Musiktherapie

Host Institution
Colorado State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance Fort Collins, Colorado

E-Mail:
kathrinmertel@gmx.de

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Author:
Kathrin Mertel

Institution:
Colorado State University, Center for Biomedical Research in Music

Note: I can't give you an abstract about a specific research topic, because I recently received an offer to work within a current study. It's not clear yet at which part of the study I will work on. However, I will give a short overview about neurological music therapy.

My experience at Colorado State University and the Center for Biomedical Research in Music (CBRM) is a very interesting addition to my knowledge about music therapy. Neurological Music Therapy (NMT) is not a part of the curriculum at my home university in Heidelberg. I got lots of theoretical background and practical experience in the domain of use of music in neurological rehabilitation. NMT is defined as the therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory, and motor dysfunctions due to neurologic disease of the human nervous system. The most interesting part for me was to get insight into the research field in NMT, an overview of the current status in research and the use of research methods and equipment. I was also lucky to work with Prof. Michael Thaut, who is the founder of NMT. Under his work, the impact of music on motor processes has become the focus of scientific study and clinical practice in neurorehabilitation. Researchers in the CBRM have demonstrated a relationship between the neural processing of auditory stimuli and the arousal of the motor system, resulting in an entrainment effect when walking to auditory rhythm. An example of the close auditory-motor connection is the response of foot tapping to rhythmic music, even if the particular piece is not liked (I think everybody experiences this). Rhythmic stimuli can enhance or promote motor responses and elicit movement. In the area of neurorehabilitation the strong relationship between auditory and motor functions can be used in the retraining of motor system functions. Regaining the ability to walk after a cerebral vascular accident can significantly improve one's quality of life.

In order to regain lost functions, methods of NMT address the neural plasticity of the brain. Music as a complex, rhythmically organised, and spectrally diverse sound structure drives neural network patterns through temporal modulation of sensory input. Techniques are based on music perception and on music performance to enhance motor, speech and cognitive functions. For example, in the Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS), the auditory processing of rhythm cues functions of the motor system, which means rhythmically organized motor pattern which are needed in gait training are facilitated. Also the repetitive and predictable nature of music provides much-needed structure and motivation for neurorehabilitation training.

In generating music therapy experiences, the clinician must understand the non-musical behavior that is to be improved by the particular exercise. The procedures of music therapy interventions thus will function as a translation and enhancement of non-musical therapeutic behavior.

My special interest in music therapy research is the cognitive field. Music can be used as a strong cue for diverse memory functions. Recently, I got an offer to join in a current study about memory facilitation with music in MS patients. This study addresses the effect of MS on cognitive abilities and how music can influence memory performance.