Musica et medicina

Abstract

Depending on the personal attitude toward a given style and performance, music can influence mental activities such as emotion, mood, motivation, psychomotor tempo and possibly cognition. Experimental data indicate that music can alter physiological parameters of somatic functions (blood pressure, heart rhythm, peripheral blood flow, respiration). However, efforts are taken in medicine and neuroscience to decipher brain physiological and morphological correlates in processing or performing music. Modern imaging techniques brought a significant advance in this respect. It appears that there is no single music center in the brain, but depending on the components (melody, rhythm) of the music, more cerebral areas with strong network connections participate in that. Important regions are the upper temporal area (primary, secondary, tertiary auditory cortex), and parts of the frontal and parietal lobes, limbic system, and cerebellum. Beyond the above aspects, medicine joins to music in the field of music therapy. Meta-analyses of controlled studies show that music can be suitable to decrease stress, anxiety, and depression in various disease groups (cardiovascular, oncological, mental) and in medical examinations (surgical, urological, cardiac catheterization). Improvements were observed in motor, cognitive and psychosocial functions after music interventions in stroke rehabilitation. The links between mood disorders and creativity in music belong to medicine as well, where eminent composers can be mentioned, and also the examples of scholar and practitioner physicians playing or composing music superbly.