A review article: Music therapy for enhancing executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Executive functions (EFs) are higher-order cognitive processes essential for learning, self-regulation, and social adaptation. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently exhibit EF deficits, which contribute to challenges in communication, behavior, and daily functioning. Growing attention has been directed toward alternative therapeutic approaches for enhancing EF skills, with music therapy (MT) increasingly recognized as a promising intervention. Music engages neural circuits within the frontal lobe-an area central to EF-while simultaneously providing a multisensory, motivating, and socially interactive medium for intervention. This review synthesizes current research across three key areas: (1) the association between EFs, social communication, and behavior; (2) the relationships between music, the brain, and EFs; and (3) empirical studies on MT-based EF training in children with ASD. Collectively, findings indicate that MT holds considerable potential as a complementary approach for strengthening EF skills and, in turn, improving social communication and adaptive behavior in this population.