title: Effects of active music therapy on the normal brain: fMRI based evidence.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the neurophysiological bases of Active Music Therapy (AMT) and its effects on the normal brain. Twelve right-handed, healthy, non-musician volunteers were recruited. The subjects underwent 2 AMT sessions based on the free sonorous-music improvisation using rhythmic and melodic instruments. After these sessions, each subject underwent 2 fMRI scan acquisitions while listening to a Syntonic (SP) and an A-Syntonic (AP) Production from the AMT sessions. A 3 T Discovery MR750 scanner with a 16-channel phased array head coil was used, and the image analysis was performed with Brain Voyager QX 2.8. The listening to SP vs AP excerpts mainly activated: (1) the right middle temporal gyrus and right superior temporal sulcus, (2) the right middle frontal gyrus and in particular the right precentral gyrus, (3) the bilateral precuneus, (4) the left superior temporal sulcus and (5) the left middle temporal gyrus. These results are consistent with the psychological bases of the AMT approach and with the activation of brain areas involved in memory and autobiographical processes, and also in personal or interpersonal significant experiences. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and to explain possible effects of AMT in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Boezio 24, 27100, Pavia, Italy. alfredo.raglio@unipv.it.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Pavia, Italy. caterina.galandra@fsm.it.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galandra
authors.affiliation: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden. luisellasibilla92@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luisella
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sibilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy. faesposito@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy. francesca.gaeta@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy. fdisalle@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Salle
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Pavia, Italy. luca.moro@fsm.it.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Pavia, Italy. irene.carne@fsm.it.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carne
authors.affiliation: Department of Nervous System and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. Stefano.bastianello@unipv.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastianello
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Pavia, Italy. maurizia.baldi@fsm.it.
authors.forename: Maurizia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Boezio 24, 27100, Pavia, Italy. marcello.imbriani@unipv.it.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imbriani
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Active music therapy; Healthy subjects; Medial prefrontal cortex; Precuneus; fMRI