title: Improving left spatial neglect through music scale playing.
abstract: The study assessed whether the auditory reference provided by a music scale could improve spatial exploration of a standard musical instrument keyboard in right-brain-damaged patients with left spatial neglect. As performing music scales involves the production of predictable successive pitches, the expectation of the subsequent note may facilitate patients to explore a larger extension of space in the left affected side, during the production of music scales from right to left. Eleven right-brain-damaged stroke patients with left spatial neglect, 12 patients without neglect, and 12 age-matched healthy participants played descending scales on a music keyboard. In a counterbalanced design, the participants' exploratory performance was assessed while producing scales in three feedback conditions: With congruent sound, no-sound, or random sound feedback provided by the keyboard. The number of keys played and the timing of key press were recorded. Spatial exploration by patients with left neglect was superior with congruent sound feedback, compared to both Silence and Random sound conditions. Both the congruent and incongruent sound conditions were associated with a greater deceleration in all groups. The frame provided by the music scale improves exploration of the left side of space, contralateral to the right hemisphere, damaged in patients with left neglect. Performing a scale with congruent sounds may trigger at some extent preserved auditory and spatial multisensory representations of successive sounds, thus influencing the time course of space scanning, and ultimately resulting in a more extensive spatial exploration. These findings offer new perspectives also for the rehabilitation of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.|Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolò Francesco
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.|Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University, London, UK.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cioffi
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Italian Auxological Institute, Milano, Italy.|Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maravita
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bricolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.|Neuropsychology Laboratory, Italian Auxological Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zigiotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milano, Italy.|Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, IRCCS Italian Auxological Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perucca
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.|Neuropsychology Laboratory, Italian Auxological Institute, Milano, Italy.|Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vallar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009147:Music Therapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: attentional disorders; exploration gradient; music; neurologic music therapy; rehabilitation; sound; stroke; unilateral spatial neglect