Investigating and evincing the benefits that music has on people’s health and wellbeing and how technological developments have multiplied this potential. That is the issue at the heart of Neurocognitive Music Therapy by Rafael Ramírez, a member of the Music Therapy Group (MTG) at UPF, which was recently published by Springer Link.

On the basis of scientific research, the book underscores the immense potential of music therapy in facilitating cognitive and emotional processes, bolstering communication and promoting the rehabilitation and recovery of motor skills. The conclusions of these studies establish the basis for designing and implementing new forms of music-based treatments aimed at improving people’s health and wellbeing, harnessing the potential of cutting-edge technology.

According to Rafael Ramírez, a member of the MTG Research Group in the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DICT) at UPF, “we explain how modern technologies can provide new opportunities to assess, validate and promote music-based therapies, opening the door to new possibilities and developments and more personalised treatment.” For example, today, sophisticated neuroimaging techniques have enhanced the scientific understanding of music’s impact on neural networks.

The publication is intended for anyone with an interest in the impact of music on health, particularly researchers and practitioners of medicine, psychology, music and music therapy. Over the course of its chapters, the work explores the use of music-based therapy in collectives with varying needs, such as people with motor disabilities or mobility problems, children with autism and elderly individuals with mental health or emotional issues. It also describes how this type of therapy can help facilitate the recovery of stroke patients or alleviate and improve the emotional state of individuals receiving palliative care. Additional topics include the use of modern AI techniques in designing personalised music therapy treatments.

Virtual musical instruments accessible to people with disabilities

With regard to people with disabilities or mobility problems, the work presents a series of virtual accessible instruments that help these individuals reap the benefits that music provides for their health and wellbeing and protocols for treatment based on these tools. It looks at research involving the use of the EyeHarp interface, thanks to which people with motor disabilities can play, improvise and compose music with their gaze alone.

Music enhances the ability to identify emotions among children with autism

As regards children with autism, the publication explores research that demonstrates the potential of music to improve the ability to recognise other people’s emotions based on their facial expression and empathise with others among minors with this condition. This study has resulted in a music-based treatment protocol for children with autism.

Music as part of stroke rehabilitation

The book also discusses protocols for integrating music and technology into the rehabilitation of stroke patients, having proven its benefits based on a research project involving 30 patients. Incorporating music into the rehabilitation process helps stroke patients regain their motor function.

Music therapy for treating depression among the elderly

Other applications of music-based interventions have to do with the mental and emotional health of elderly individuals. The studies discussed show how neurofeedback, used in conjunction with music, contributes to the alleviation of depression.

Melodies for improving the emotional state of people in palliative care

In this regard, the publication focuses on a study involving cancer patients receiving palliative care, to analyse their emotional responses to music therapy treatment. The research shows that this type of therapy improves the patients’ emotional state and sets out an intervention protocol for more widespread implementation.

AI for personalising and optimising music-based therapy

Lastly, coinciding with the boom in personalised medicine and the potential of artificial intelligence to find ways of tailoring treatments to the specific needs of each patient, the book analyses how these developments apply to the field of music therapy.