Vocal music boosts the recovery of language functions after stroke


Date:
July 9, 2021
Source:
University of Helsinki
Summary:
Listening to vocal music is a simple and cost-efficient way of
promoting recovery and brain health after a stroke.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Research has shown that listening to music daily improves language
recovery in patients who have experienced a stroke. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the phenomenon have so far remained unknown.


==========================================================================
A study conducted at the University of Helsinki and the Turku University Hospital Neurocenter compared the effect of listening to vocal music, instrumental music and audiobooks on the structural and functional
recovery of the language network of patients who had suffered an acute
stroke. In addition, the study investigated the links between such changes
and language recovery during a three-month follow-up period. The study
was published in the eNeuro journal.

Based on the findings, listening to vocal music improved the recovery of
the structural connectivity of the language network in the left frontal
lobe compared to listening to audiobooks. These structural changes
correlated with the recovery of language skills.

"For the first time, we were able to demonstrate that the positive effects
of vocal music are related to the structural and functional plasticity of
the language network. This expands our understanding of the mechanisms
of action of music-based neurological rehabilitation methods," says Postdoctoral Researcher Aleksi Sihvonen.

Listening to music supports other rehabilitation Aphasia, a language
impairment resulting from a stroke, causes considerable suffering
to patients and their families. Current therapies help in the
rehabilitation of language impairments, but the results vary and the
necessary rehabilitation is often not available to a sufficient degree
and early enough.

"Listening to vocal music can be considered a measure that enhances conventional forms of rehabilitation in healthcare. Such activity can
be easily, safely and efficiently arranged even in the early stages of rehabilitation," Sihvonen says.

According to Sihvonen, listening to music could be used as a
cost-efficient boost to normal rehabilitation, or for rehabilitating
patients with mild speech disorders when other rehabilitation options
are scarce.

After a disturbance of the cerebral circulation, the brain needs
stimulation to recover as well as possible. This is the goal of
conventional rehabilitation methods as well.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the time spent in hospital is not stimulating. At these times, listening to music could serve as an additional and sensible rehabilitation measure that can have a positive effect on recovery,
improving the prognosis," Sihvonen adds.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Helsinki. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Aleksi J. Sihvonen, Pablo Ripolle's, Vera Leo, Jani Saunavaara,
Riitta
Parkkola, Antoni Rodri'guez-Fornells, Seppo Soinila, Teppo
Sa"rka"mo".

Vocal Music Listening Enhances Poststroke Language Network
Reorganization. eneuro, 2021; 8 (4): ENEURO.0158-21.2021 DOI:
10.1523/ ENEURO.0158-21.2021 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210709104224.htm

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