Neuroscience of music exam 3

Vocal similarity theory

We perceive music and other sounds based on their similarities to human speech

Based on VST, what musical features would be best for improving depression symptoms?

Articulated contours that rise towards the end

Based on VST, what musical features would be best for improving anxiety symptoms?

Extended falling pitch contours and low frequency weighted timbres

How can music impact surgery outcomes?

Listening to music before, during, or after surgery reduced anxiety and decreased the amount of anesthesia patients needed.

What is a Standard Mean Difference?

The difference, measured in standard deviations, between the experimental group’s response variable mean and the control/before group. This measure can be used to compare different studies and treatments.

How does music therapy for anxiety compare to standard psychotherapies and medications?

Music therapy of 12+ sessions is more effective than standard treatments, 7-8 sessions is in the same range of effectiveness as standard treatments.

How does music therapy help people with physical health issues?

For people with physical health issues with secondary depressive symptoms, the positive impact of music therapy on depressive symptoms is even larger than for people suffering from only depression. Receptive therapy is more effective for these patients than interactive therapy.

How does music therapy for depression compare to standard psychotherapies and medications?

Music therapy for depression is used as a supplemental treatment, in combination with psychotherapy and/or medication. 6-12 weeks of receptive music therapy significantly reduced symptoms, and interactive music therapy was up to 3x as effective as standard treatments alone.

Why use VST in music therapy design?

Using VST when selecting music for therapy allows for standardization that is currently lacking.

Impact of music therapy on substance abuse disorder

Improves motivation to rehabilitate and stay sober

Impact of music therapy on anorexia

Reduces post-meal anxiety

Impact of music therapy on Tourette’s

Can act as a tic suppressant

What disorders are helped by music therapy and involve dysregulation of the reward system?

Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, OCD, ADHD, autism, conduct disorder, tourette’s, and schizophrenia

Why is music therapy thought to improve disorders with irregularities in the reward system?

Music therapy normalizes dysfunctional areas of the reward system

How do people use music for emotional reguation?

Entertainment, revival, strong sensation, diversion, discharge, mental work, solace

Large SMD effect size

>0.8

Medium SMD effect size

0.5 - 0.8

Small SMD effect size

0.2 - 0.5

Which areas are included in the HPA axis and what does it do?

Hypothalamic - Pituitary Gland - Adrenal Glands: This endocrine network produces and regulates cortisol

What gland produces cortisol?

The adrenal glands, specifically the outer layer/cortex

Short-term effects of cortisol on the body

It causes the liver to produce and release sugar to make energy available to muscles, it binds to brain regions that are involved with attention and learning, and inhibits functions like growth until after the stress is over.

Long-term effects of cortisol on the body

It harms the brain by inhibiting neuron growth in the hippocampus, suppressing neural pathways involved in decision making and cognition, worsening damage caused by a stroke, and accelerating deterioration from aging. It can also lead to insomnia.

How does the body know to stop producing cortisol?

When cortisol levels in the blood get high, the brain stops releasing cortisol.

Koelsch study

People undergoing hip replacement surgery were randomly assigned to listen to either music or ocean sounds. Patients who listened to music had lower cortisol levels, and needed less anesthesia.

How does music help NICU babies?

In the stressful environment of the NICU, music lowers the babies’ cortisol, allowing more resources to go towards digestion and growth. The babies grow faster when listening to music

What brain regrowth (and associated benefits) after stroke was amplified by listening to an hour of self selected music per day?

Increase in grey matter in the superior frontal gyrus, involved in cognitive processing, is associated with improved attention. Left subgenual anterior cingulate and right ventral striatum growth, involved in emotional processing, is associated with improved depression.

Why is it important to reduce stress after a stroke?

Cortisol reduces neuron pathway growth, so decreased cortisol will make brain regrowth easier.

How does music therapy help people with Alzheimer’s?

Music therapy did not improve cognition, but significantly improved anxiety

What area is associated with music-based autobiographical memory recall?

Medial prefrontal cortex