Is There an Artistic Treatment for Neurological Diseases? The Paradigm of Music Therapy

Abstract

Music therapy is defined as the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy programme. Music therapy can mediate favourable outcomes in neurological diseases when interventions are directed to engage motor and multisensory networks. A large number of controlled studies have evaluated the potential role of music therapy (both active and receptive) in the rehabilitation of several neurological disorders. Although further high-quality randomized controlled studies are needed to determine and confirm the clinical efficacy of music-based intervention in neurological rehabilitation, music therapy is a potentially appealing and promising strategy both to promote brain plasticity and compensate for the brain damage caused by neurological disease.