Page 43 - NAMAH-Jul-2021

Namah Multi-sensory approaches of music in the brain — II

index and better social interaction and mood adults, which can lead to depression and lone-
elevation. liness, might be due to intense life-changes,
physical decline, hormonal changes, cognitive
Then the second group of two older adults changes or social changes due to their disease
had twenty individual 45-minute sessions affliction. Music has a medicinal capacity
of Hindustani classical music improvisation and a tremendous power to trigger strong

model, followed by 15 minutes of flute with emotions and evoke intense pleasure to mod-
natural sounds and instrumental music ulate mood and arousal. The improvisation of
listening. At the post-session assessments of selected Rabindra Sangeet music modulates
both individuals, they showed no significant the mood and helps the subject towards a
change in mood alleviation, and expression heightened expression of emotions and trig-
of emotions, but were high in the happiness gers a stronger happiness index. On the other
a
index, relaxation and social interaction. The hand, the improvisation of selected ragas from
assessment findings advocate that the Hindustani classical music activates happy
rhythm, poetry, lyrics and song-writing parts hormones and triggers relaxation.
of Rabindra Sangeet gave them a better way
to express their emotions and were more Physiological responses (heart-rate and
significant in behavioural measurements as hormone release) and brain activation in the
they included musical performance features, mesolimbic system are related to the evoked
note density, note duration, distribution emotions associated with musical activities.
mode, note maxima and minima based on the Some research papers on mental health and
highest and lowest pitch, song sentiments in music therapy advocate the findings that
comparison to Hindustani classical music. On musical activities and group music therapy
the other hand, the timing and combinations programmes help older adults in connecting
a
of rhythms in ragas gave the subjects a sense with other people, in developing self-identity,
of relaxation, calmness and happiness. in maintaining a good social bonding and
in increasing self-esteem, thus decreasing
feelings of loneliness and isolation and
increasing the quality of life and emotional
well-being.

Furthermore, we can use music as an
emotional stimulus for musically inclined
older adults to express and experience spir-
ituality and use it as a tool for the evoca-
tion of autobiographical memories. Positive
emotions and satisfaction of psychological
Conclusion needs are important factors for human overall
well-being. Some research studies advocate
These case studies of 4 female older adults that positive emotions were the most fre-
with Parkinson’s disease reveal that diffi- quently felt feelings in response to music.
culties in the emotional well-being of older With the help of music therapy sessions,

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