Neurologic Music Therapy Improves Executive Function and Emotional Adjustment in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

  1. Michael H. Thaut1,
  2. James C. Gardiner2,
  3. Dawn Holmberg1,
  4. Javan Horwitz2,
  5. Luanne Kent2,
  6. Garrett Andrews2,
  7. Beth Donelan2,
  8. Gerald R. McIntosh1

Article first published online: 24 JUL 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04585.x

Issue

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Additional Information

How to Cite

Thaut, M. H., Gardiner, J. C., Holmberg, D., Horwitz, J., Kent, L., Andrews, G., Donelan, B. and McIntosh, G. R. (2009), Neurologic Music Therapy Improves Executive Function and Emotional Adjustment in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169: 406–416. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04585.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Center for Biomedical Research in Music, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

  2. 2

    Veterans Affairs Black Hills Health Care System, Mental Health Service, Fort Meade, South Dakota, USA

*Address for correspondence: Michael H. Thaut, Center for Biomedical Research in Music, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523. michael.thaut@colostate.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 JUL 2009
  2. Article first published online: 24 JUL 2009

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Keywords:

  • brain injury;
  • neurologic music therapy;
  • cognitive rehabilitation;
  • attention;
  • memory;
  • executive function;
  • emotional adjustment

This study examined the immediate effects of neurologic music therapy (NMT) on cognitive functioning and emotional adjustment with brain-injured persons. Four treatment sessions were held, during which participants were given a pre-test, participated in 30 min of NMT that focused on one aspect of rehabilitation (attention, memory, executive function, or emotional adjustment), which was followed by post-testing. Control participants engaged in a pre-test, 30 min of rest, and then a post-test. Treatment participants showed improvement in executive function and overall emotional adjustment, and lessening of depression, sensation seeking, and anxiety. Control participants improved in emotional adjustment and lessening of hostility, but showed decreases in measures of memory, positive affect, and sensation seeking.

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