Page 31 - NAMAH-Apr-2021

Multi-sensory approaches of music in the brain — I

Aradhana Deogharia

Abstract
The future of evidence-based treatment plans for sensorimotor dysfunctions of neurological
disorders lies behind the concepts and research of ‘Multi-sensory approaches of music. In the
brain’. The therapeutic use of music in the rehabilitation and development of patients with
Parkinson’s, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington’s Disease has been
well documented since the 1990s. This article provides a glimpse of three standardised rhythmic-
musical applications for rehabilitation, development and maintenance of sensorimotor function.

Music therapy is an evidence-based therapy This paper describes and explores the multi-
that provides the concepts and therapeutic sensory brain processing in music. It has
evidence of brain processing through musical three main sections. The first provides an
interventions in clinical settings. Whenever introduction to basic musical concepts and
we are talking about musical interventions, elements in clinical improvisation. The
the first question that arises is, ‘What are those second considers the evidence-based research
musical concepts and materials which help on the multi-sensory approaches of musical
the therapist to build conceptual musical materials in the brain. The stage for the final
interventions in clinics?’ section describes the applications of clinical
improvisation in the treatment plans for the
target population.

Improvisation is a method in music therapy
used by therapists in a broad spectrum of
clinical populations to achieve therapeutic
outcomes. It is commonly reported in extant
literature as being effective within individual
and group formats towards the development
of cognitive, affective, sensorimotor, and
communicative behaviours. Certainly,
improvisation is utilised as a medium for

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