Role of music therapy in neurological practice

Abstract

Music has marked its presence since the evolution of human society and has occupied our day-to-day life. It has also contributed in forming society and civilizations. Advancement in technology and portability of multimedia devices have made the access to music a common norm. It has various purposes like social cohesion, emotional expressions, interpersonal communication, recreation. It has a great bonding power and is important in terms of social dynamics. As it has an effect on society, so does it have an effect on an individual’s mind and body as well. Music intervention is convenient, inexpensive, user controlled and seems to be influencing the physiological system in a positive way if rightly used, this therapy and its intervention is applied now-a-days in various ailments and disease states as an adjuvant therapy. Vast research is going on to find the right music that could have the desired therapeutic effect where the physiology is deranged from the normal. Effect of music on pain modulation, exercise performance, Cardiac and Autonomic functions, Heart rate variability, emotions, anxiety, stress and entrainment of biological rhythms are well evaluated. Its application in enhancing higher functions like memory tasks and learning are also known. The evident physiological implications of music on various physiological parameters are being elaborated.