Music Therapy Maven » Music and Neuroscience

Article Sharing: Music Therapy, Sensory Integration, and Pain

Kimberly — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:43:40 +0000

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The title is kind of funny, isn’t it? I mean, what do “sensory integration” and “pain” have in common?

For starters, articles I wrote on those topics were published last week

I have the good fortune of periodically being invited to write for other blogs. One of those blogs is Pediastaff, a provider of pediatric therapy services.

Last week, Pediastaff published a review I wrote on Songames, a CD and booklet that outlines structured, music-based experience for children with sensory integration issues. Want to know what I, as a music therapist, thought? Check it out here: Product Review: Songames (TM) for Sensory Integration

I am also a blogger on Psychology Today, where last year I started the blog “Your Musical Self.” My most recent post is on musical analgesia…or how music can help your pain. Whether chronic or acute, research is showing that music can be an effective pain management tool: Musical Analgesia: How Music Helps Pain

Finally, I’m always on the lookout for great articles related to music therapy–clinical music therapy, music therapy research, music neuroscience, etc. If you’ve read anything interesting (or have written anything interesting yourself!) and would like to share it, please leave a comment in the boxes below!

It’s Raining Awesome YouTube Videos!

Kimberly — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:30:30 +0000

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Ever hear the saying “when it rains, it pours”? Well, it was raining awesome YouTube videos for me last week!

Below are three videos I highly recommend you watch. The first is an interview between Ellen (yes, THAT Ellen) and Jodi Picoult, author of the music therapist’s favorite new book, Sing You Home. They don’t chat about music therapy…but it’s fascinating to hear Picoult’s personal connection with some of the story lines in the novel.

The second video is a TED talk outlining, from a neuroscience perspective, 3 ways we can super-charge how the brain learns and retains new information. This video has convinced me that, yes, I really DO need to start using Prezi…

Finally, the third video is a fabulously-entertaining, auto-tuned song called “Ode to the Brain.” ‘Nuff said.

Happy watching!

Ellen Chats with Jodi Picoult

3 Ways the Brain Creates Meaning

Ode to the Brain

P.S. Special thanks to @minutrition on Twitter, who forwarded the two TED videos to me. Thank you!

Watch and Learn: The Mirror Neuron Song

It’s Brain Awareness Week!

Kimberly — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:00:40 +0000

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Did you know that this week is Brain Awareness Week (BAW)? I didn’t!

According to the Dana Foundation, BAW is a global campaign aimed at increasing “public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research.” I don’t know the history behind how BAW got started, but it now happens every March. BAW highlights efforts of various organizations around the world who work to educate and get people excited about the brain.

The Dana Foundation lists the types of events these organizations are providing, such as:

Open days at neuroscience labs
Museum exhibitions about the brain
Lectures on brain-related topics
Displays at malls, libraries, and community centers
Classroom workshops

Some organizations are even taking BAW beyond….well, a week! Posit Science, a company specializing in brain fitness and brain training, is hosting a series of live Facebook Q&A sessions. And guess who’s one of the invited “experts”–ME!

Next Thursday, March 24th, from 12:00-1:00 pm ET, I will be available on the Posit Science Facebook page, answering questions about music and the brain. And I invite you to join me!

Not only that, but Posit Science is featuring other wonderful experts as well. If you’re interested in the best “brain foods,” how movement and exercise effects your brain, or how to make your brain “better,” then there’s a FB Q&A for you! Click here for more information.

Finally, the Dana Foundation has wonderful information about Brain Awareness Week–who’s involved, activities near you, etc. I invite you to check it out!

A Musical Way to Help Babies Sleep

Kimberly — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:07:41 +0000

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I love podcasts. I’ve written about my favorite podcasts before, and now I have another to add to the list! Earlier this summer, I was introduced to the “Music and the Brain” podcast published by the Library of Congress. They don’t post new episodes often, but when they do, they’re quality and highly informative.

The latest episode featured a well-known and highly respected music therapy researcher and professor at Florida State University, Dr. Jayne Standley. I have not met Dr. Standley, nor had I heard her speak. Let me tell you…I was impressed!

Although she talked about many interesting things, there was one point in particular that, as a mother, I wish I thought of and used!

Here’s the deal–starting about halfway through pregnancy, a babies begins to hear and “remember” what they hear from the womb. We know they “remember” because babies prefer their mother’s voice, which is the one they’ve heard the most in utero. It’s also one of those reasons that playing music on the belly is so popular (though this is unnecessary—babies hear what you hear, so no need for headphones on the belly).

Now “remembering” information also means that the baby’s brain changed and developed to learn and store that memory. So how about this for an idea? Some babies have difficulty sleeping for long periods of time. It’s a major cause of fatigue, complaining, and an increase in coffee consumption for new parents (though not the latter if you’re nursing. Kinda sucks, actually…).

But what if a pregnant woman tries this: in your last trimester of pregnancy, listen to a lullaby when you fall asleep. The same lullaby every night. Since we know that babies “remember” auditory information heard in utero, chances are their brains will begin to associate that lullaby with relaxation and sleep.

Then, after the baby is born, play that same lullaby at night when it’s time to relax and fall asleep. If this works, then the music will cue the baby that it’s time to sleep. And the baby will.

That was only one bit of information in a very wonderful interview (that included cool information about using music in the NICU). Click hear to listen to the entire episode.

Updated Resources

I’m working to get in the habit of updating the Resource of the Month and the Video of the Month…well, monthly! Check out this month’s features:

The Music Therapy Round Table podcast I co-host with Rachel Rambach and Michelle Erfurt is part of the AMTA Silent Auction! You’ll have the opportunity to be a guest-co-host and have a free one-hour coaching session with the 3 of us. Bidding has started: click here to learn more!
I’ve updated the video on the left-hand sidebar: my first music and the brain song, the Neurodevelopment song. Enjoy!
In case you were wondering…that’s my daughter in the picture. Fast asleep. Almost 2 years ago

[VIDEO] Music as a Core Function in Our Brain

Kimberly — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:20:00 +0000

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So is it a bad thing to brag on your own blog?

The bragging isn’t just for me, it’s mostly for my husband. My husband, Steve, is a lifelong band director, conductor, and music educator. The other week, he gave a talk exploring the theory that music is a core function in our brain. He summarizes some of the writings of Dr. Michael Thaut, who uses evidence from neuroscience and archaeology to support this theory.

Armed with my handy-dandy iPhone4, I recorded the talk, then edited it in iMovie and have published it on YouTube. Enjoy:

But wait! There’s more…

Some of you may remember that last spring I started writing the blog “Your Musical Self” for Psychology Today. In my very first post, I shared a story about a gentleman I worked with while a student at Iowa. This gentleman had Parkinson’s and had various gait and balance challenges. One afternoon, through the music of Sousa, we jointly “discovered” the link between rhythm and movement.

The story caught the eyes of one of the writers for the Psychology Today print magazine. She interviewed me about that story and, guess what?, it’s in the print magazine now!

If you end up purchasing the magazine (which I recommend as there are lots of great articles and information in there!), check out page 39.

But if you just want to check out page 39, then click here to download the story. It’s in a zip file, so you’ll have to double-click it to “un-zip” and read the article.

P.S. Earlier this week I published my latest article on Psychology Today: Music Training Roadblocks. Click here to check it out.

New Research on the “Mozart Effect”

Kimberly — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:00:52 +0000

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NOTE: I originally published this article on my Psychology Today blog, Your Musical Self, earlier this week. I thought you may enjoy reading it, so am sharing it with you here today.

It’s finally here. I’ve been waiting for this research for a long time.

Have you ever heard of the Mozart Effect? The popular (and commercialized) version states that “listening to Mozart makes you smarter.”

Actually, the original research (published in Nature in 1993) had some fairly narrow findings. The researchers (Rauscher, Shaw, & Ky) had college-aged students take one of three tests of spatial-temporal reasoning. These tests, subsets of the standard Stanford-Binet IQ test, asked the students to visualize spatial patterns and, over time, to manipulate them. Additionally, there were three pre-test listening conditions: a Mozart piano sonata, repetetive relaxation music, and silence. When the student’s listened to the Mozart, they performed better on the spatial reasoning test. But it was a temporary improvement–the effect wore off after 15 minutes.

It should be noted that the researchers themselves made NO claims that listening to Mozart made people smarter. They presented their findings like any good researchers would, stating that listening to Mozart temporarily improved the spatial intelligence scores of college-aged students.

But over the next several years, the notion that “Mozart makes you smarter” grabbed hold of us. We liked the idea of a “magic bullet” approach. For the past 15 years, it’s been promoted in books (such as Don Campbell’s 1997 book The Mozart Effect: Tapping the Power of Music to Heal the Body, Strengthen the Mind, and Unlock the Creative Spirit) and turned into hundreds of DVDs, toys, CDs, and other products. And it seemed so easy–you turn on this “educational” video/CD/toy and your child will be the next Harvard valedictorian!

We finally have a follow-up study. Actually, there have been many follow-up studies, but we now have a summary of all those follow-up studies. Researchers at the University of Vienna (Pietschnig, Voracek, & Formann, 2010) performed a meta-analysis of nearly 40 studies. Guess what? They found no evidence that listening to Mozart’s music “enhanced” cognitive abilities in any way.

Now this doesn’t mean you should throw out every classical CD, DVD, and toy you own. It just means you just can’t expect brilliant results from your child by simply having him or her listen to or play with those materials.

However, there IS evidence that learning music and being involved in music helps improve a child’s math and language abilities. Additionally, there are tangible social benefits to being involved in music, as well as emotional and self-expression rewards.

So here are a few better ideas of ways to incorporate music in your child’s life that have some real benefit:

Sing to your child. Singing is good for parent-child bonding, communicates emotional and regulatory information, and can be a vehicle for learning. Nervous about singing in front of your children? Don’t be! Your child loves you and loves your voice…no matter what you may think of it.
Purchase child-friendly musical instruments. Young children learn through creative exploration and play. Have a box of instruments available to them and encourage them to explore their inner musician.
Enroll in an early childhood music class. You will find an early childhood music class in almost any town. Some are provided by musicians, music teachers, or music therapists, others by instructors trained in a certain protocol (such as Musikgarten or Kindermusik).
Pay for formal music lessons. There are some music programs that start training children as young as 3 or 4 in violin or piano (such as Suzuki). But generally children start taking formal lessons in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade. Even if your child doesn’t end up a professional musician, formal music training is one of the best things you can do for your child’s developing brain.
Encourage participation in band, orchestra, or choir. Schools have ready-made music programs, many of which teach your child how to play the instrument (although I still recommend private lessons for maximum benefit!). This type of group ensemble participation provides wonderful social opportunities and encourages working towards your goals.

References

Rauscher, Shaw, & Ky (1993). Music and spatial task performance. Nature, 365, 611. Retrieved May 17, 2010 from http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/365611a0

University of Vienna (2010, May 10). Mozart’s music does not make you smarter, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2010/05/100510075415.htm

Video: The 3 Neurotransmitters

Kimberly — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:30:07 +0000

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Last fall, you heard The Neurodevelopment Song. In January, it was Watch and Learn: The Mirror Neuron Song. Today, I bring you the third song in this (yet-to-be-named) series: The 3 Neurotransmitters.

As therapists, we literally re-wire the brains of our clients. That type of re-wiring happens because of certain chemicals in our brain, called neurotransmitters.

The three neurotransmitters mentioned in this song (norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and dopamine) are used when “therapy” happens. That is, they’re used in the process of helping our clients learn new skills. These brain chemicals are released when we grab their attention, hold it by making the task interesting, introduce novelty to the task, and making it motivating.

(The lighting isn’t great on this video, but I’ll dedicate the light-blue tinge to my husband’s basketball team, the top-seeded UK Wildcats!!!)

P.S. I am very excited to announce that I’m one of the newest bloggers for Psychology Today! I published my first article earlier this week–From Beyonce to Sousa: The Power of a Beat. Thank you for everyone who has been so supportive and encouraging to me this week!!!

UPDATE: Per a reader’s request, here are the lyrics to “The 3 Neurotransmitters”

The Three Neurotransmitter
by Kimberly Sena Moore, MM, NMT-F, MT-BC

1) The brain undergoes tremendous change
In the first 3 years of life
After this you’re pretty much set
(Which is why you want to start out right)
But our brains reorganize and change
It’s called neuroplasticity
This works due to certain chemicals
Namely these three…

2) Our brain, it changes
Because of neurotransmitters
They help reorganize and change
Our brain’s parameters
There’s norepinephrine
And acetylcholine
Also dopamine
The 3 neurotransmitters

3) The Alerting Network
Tells us to pay attention
Uses norepinephrine
To drive new connections
Starting in the locus coeruleus
It alerts us to the stimulus
Use novelty, key for each of us
To release norepinephrine

4) The Orienting Network
Starts in the basal forebrain
Enhances our focus
With acetylcholine
Uses arousal and reward
Don’t let the work be a chore
Make it motivating, interesting, don’t be a bore
To release acetylcholine

5) The Executive Network
Is like a “save” button
Uses dopamine
Which rewards and punishes
If you want to retain new information
It helps to have some motivation
Keep reinforcing the situation
To release the dopamine.

6) So know you know about
Neurotransmitters
And how you can use them
To change brain parameters
They help us pay attention
To focus our intentions
And respond to motivation
The three neurotransmitters

Watch and Learn: The Mirror Neuron Song

Kimberly — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:36:06 +0000

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In the 1990s, scientists at the University of Parma were studying motor neurons in monkeys. They attached electrodes to a monkey’s brain cells responsible for movements. These electrodes recorded whenever those cells fired…a.k.a. whenever the monkey moved.

Monkeys like peanuts. The researchers set out peanuts for the monkeys to grab. Monkey grabs a peanut, motor neuron fires, electrode records.

Then an odd thing happened. The monkey watched a human pick up the peanut. Their motor neuron fired. The human picked up another peanut. The motor neuron fired again. The monkey hadn’t moved, but the motor neuron fired as if it had.

And that’s how these researchers accidentally discovered one of the coolest things in our brain: mirror neurons.

Mirror neurons are special brain cells that reside on either side of our head. These neurons fire when you do something…or just watch someone else do something.

You may ask: so what? The “so what” is that mirror neurons help tie us to other people’s actions and their feelings. This is important for:

Empathy. When we see someone feel sad, we feel a little sad. When they’re happy, we’re happy. Mirror neurons help us develop empathy.
Learning: One way babies learn new skills is by watching others. That’s why second children may learn how to crawl sooner than the first–because they’ve been watching older brother crawl. We don’t lose this ability. When we’re trying to learn something new, it helps to watch someone else do it–because of mirror neurons.

It’s also an important concept for therapists to understand…and it provides a bit of job security. We will never replace live therapists. Only a live therapist can show a client or patient how to do something–and let their mirror neurons work to help teach them.

Last December, I posted my first neuroscience-inspired song. I’m proud now to share with you my second–Watch and Learn: The Mirror Neuron Song.

CHORUS:

Watch and learn, watch and learn
Let your mirror neurons do their thing
Watch and learn, watch and learn
It’s time for your brain to change

1) Mirror neurons are specialized
One on each side of the brain
Near Broca’s and the inferior parietal lobe
Sending signals all over the place

2) They don’t care if they do or watch
They’ll fire the same every time
They influence feelings of empathy
Cause if I watch you, I’ll feel in kind

3) Mirror neurons may be fundamental
In how we connect with each other
They let me learn by watching you
Like a babe learns watching it’s mother

4) The implications for mirror neurons
Are vast, it affects therapy
If a client watches while I show them
What to do, their brain syncs with me

5) Some think those with ASD
Or autism, if you know what I mean
Their social challenges may be due
To broken mirror neuron circuitry.

6) Mirror neurons fire the same
No difference if you do or see
We literally change our client’s brains
When working with them through therapy.

The Neurodevelopment Song (Video)

Kimberly — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:06:08 +0000

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You asked for it and here it is–”The Neurodevelopment Song.”

Why did I write a song about neurodevelopment? Mostly because I’m a big nerd…but also because I’m trying to improve my songwriting chops. And the only way to do that is to actually write songs.

I first performed this during my presentation at the American Music Therapy Association conference in San Diego last month. I’ve revised and edited a bit since then, but the basic idea is still here.

This song touches on the main concepts of neurodevelopment: nature/nurture, use-dependent development, hierarchical & predictable development, superhighways, etc.

I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts–would you like to see more of these types of songs on this blog? If so (or if need), leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

CHORUS:

Right to left, back to front
That’s how the brain develops
Right to left, back to front
It’s neurodevelopment

Verse 1:

Genes bring a predisposition
Environment adds a contribution
To shape how our brain’s built
Cause it grows in a use-dependent way
Experiences have a major say
In determining the adult.
Verse 2:

The back of the brain’s pretty much formed
By the time that we are born
The medulla, pons, and midbrain
Allow us to breathe, help hearts beat
It dictates sleep, we really need
This part called the brainstem.

Verse 3:

The brainstem’s primitive, it’s first to grow
Development keeps on in a hierarchical flow
Through deep structures ending with the frontal lobe
Brain mature til we’re in our 40s
Different ages provide opportunities
For critical skills to develop

Verse 4:

Critical periods are windows of time
Certain parts of our brain are ready and primed
For certain stimuli to develop
Skills like vision, language and trust come to mind
If windows aren’t use you will get behind
Cause your brain didn’t get it

Verse 5:

A baby’s brain is a third of our size
With billions of neurons some will have to die
They’re pruned so we can make room
For connections to form, superhighways called
Fasciculi on which we rely
These pathways let our brain communicate.

“The Traumatized Brain” Handouts

Kimberly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:00:33 +0000

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If you’ve been following me on this blog or on Twitter and Facebook, you know that I am writing this from the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) national conference. We are in sunny San Diego–the weather is perfect, the palm trees are beautiful, and the tobacco warning signs read: “Warning: This area contains various chemicals including tobacco smoke, which is known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive issues.”

Ahhh, California…

On Saturday, I gave a presentation titled “The Traumatized Brain: Understanding the Science Behind Trauma and Why Music Works.” If you attended the session, thank you for your interest and support!

If you are interested in downloading the handouts, click the link below and a PDF should start downloading:

Click here for the handout (pdf)

I would welcome your comments, questions, and feedback! Simply leave a comment below or contact me.