Science

Brain scans reveal that patient and therapist's brains synchronise during music therapy


Brain scans reveal that patient and doctor’s brains SYNCHRONISE during music therapy

  • Researchers played classical music as a patient discussed a serious illness 
  • Both the patient and therapist wore EEG caps containing brain scanning sensors 
  • At one point the patient’s brain activity shifted from a negative to positive peak
  • Shortly afterwards the therapist’s own brain scan showed similar results

Therapists and their patients sing from the same hymn sheet during music sessions, a new study suggests.

Experts say they have shown that the brains of the two synchronise during sessions, hailing a breakthrough that could improve future interactions.

Music therapy can be used to treat conditions such as depression, autism, and dementia.

The study is the first to use hyperscanning, which records activity in two brains at the same time, allowing researchers to better understand how people interact.

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Brain scans reveal that patient and therapist's brains synchronise during music therapy. Pictured: Dr. Clemens Maidhof and Professor Jorg Fachner of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), who led the research

Brain scans reveal that patient and therapist’s brains synchronise during music therapy. Pictured: Dr. Clemens Maidhof and Professor Jorg Fachner of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), who led the research

During the session covered by the study, conducted by researchers from Anglia Ruskin Universit, classical music was played as the patient discussed a serious illness in her family.

Both the patient and therapist wore EEG (electroencephalogram) caps containing sensors that capture electrical signals in the brain.

The session was also recorded in sync with the EEG using video cameras.

Music therapists work towards ‘moments of change’, where they make a meaningful connection with their patient.

In the study, the researchers noted that at one point the patient’s brain activity shifted suddenly from displaying deep negative feelings to a positive peak.

Shortly afterwards the therapist’s scan showed similar results, as she realised the session was working.

In subsequent interviews, both identified that as a moment when they felt the therapy was really working.

By analysing hyperscanning data alongside video footage and a transcript of the session, the researchers were able to demonstrate that brain synchronisation occurs.

They were also able show what a patient-therapist ‘moment of change’ looks like inside the brain.

The study is the first to use hyperscanning, which records activity in two brains at the same time using an EEG (pictured), allowing researchers to better understand how people interact (stock image)

The study is the first to use hyperscanning, which records activity in two brains at the same time using an EEG (pictured), allowing researchers to better understand how people interact (stock image)

Lead author Jorg Fachner, professor of music, health and the brain at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: ‘This study is a milestone in music therapy research.

‘Music therapists report experiencing emotional changes and connections during therapy, and we’ve been able to confirm this using data from the brain.

‘Music, used therapeutically, can improve well-being, and treat conditions including anxiety, depression, autism, and dementia.

‘Music therapists have had to rely on the patient’s response to judge whether this is working, but by using hyperscanning we can see exactly what is happening in the patient’s brain.’

He added that by highlighting exactly where the sessions have worked, it could be particularly useful when treating patients who struggle with verbal communication.

The researchers identified some limitations in their study, acknowledging that the findings need to be interpreted with ‘some caution’.

They said it was an explorative single case study, but that their observations can be addressed in future studies involving series of case studies in parallel to controlled experiments with healthy participants.

Both participants were listening to the same music, and thus any similarity in emotional processing could be in principle due to the common factor of music-evoked emotions in both participants, the researchers added.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Frontiers In Psychology.

WHAT IS AN EEG AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a recording of brain activity which was originally developed for clinical use.

During the test, small sensors are attached to the scalp to pick up the electrical signals produced when brain cells send messages to each other. 

In the medical field, EEGs are typically carried out by a highly trained specialist known as a clinical neurophysiologist.

These signals are recorded by a machine and are analysed by a medical professional to determine whether they’re unusual.

An EEG can be used to help diagnose and monitor a number of conditions that affect the brain.

It may help identify the cause of certain symptoms, such as seizures or memory problems.

More recently, technology companies have used the technique to create brain-computer interfaces, sometimes referred to as ‘mind-reading’ devices.

This has led to the creation and design of a number of futuristic sounding gadgets.

These have ranged from a machine that can decipher words from brainwaves without them being spoken to a headband design that would let computer users open apps using the power of thought.



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