NeuroMusic
We research Neurosciences and Music (NeuroMusic) to understand why music is so fundamental to humans. We believe that music can be a prove to identify higher-order brain functions such as skilled motor control and learning, perception, cognition, memory, emotion and creativity in humans. We aim to clarify the origin of our musicality in the brain to augment the possibility of music for harmonious future.
Interests in the Neurosciences of Music has grown rapidly over the last few decades. However, there has been almost no laboratory for this field in Japan, despite a growing recognition of the need to understand the neural origin of our musicality. The NeuroMusicLab at Keio SFC (The Neurosciences and Music Laboratory at Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus) was founded by Dr. Shinya Fujii to address this need.
Music Therapy and Music-Assisted Rehabilitation: A Study to Test Effects of Music Therapy
Music therapy aims to restore and improve physical and mental health by applying the physiological, psychological, and social effects of listening to and playing music. What is needed in music therapy today is the scientific evidences. In this project, we will work on scientific evaluation/assessment of the effects of music therapy and music-assisted rehabilitation in collaboration with Shirankai Hikarigaoka Hospital in Toyama Prefecture. Those who wish to work on this research project from the fall semester of 2022 are encouraged to check the website and SNS of Shirankai Hikarigaoka Hospital and to join this Tokubetsu-Kenkyu-Project in this summer.
Music Therapy is the intentional and systematic use of music to restore physical and mental health, maintain and improve function, enhance quality of life, and change behavior, using the physiological, psychological, and social functions of music (see Japanese Music Therapy Association). In recent years, the need for music therapy has been increasing, and it is used in nursing homes and medical hospitals. However, scientific evidences are needed to clarify why and how music therapy works. In fact, Evidence-Based Music Therapy is needed (Bando, 2008; Sato, 2011). Under these circumstances, emerging research field of "Neurosciences and Music (NeuroMusic)" have a potential to elucidate how music is processed in the human brain and body (Fujii, 2018). The development of Neurosciences and Music is important in pioneering the field of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) (Altenmüller & Schlaug, 2013). Recently, older adults with musical training were reported to perform better on cognitive tasks, such as working memory and executive function, than older adults without musical training (Grassi et al., 2017). Exercise with music was also reported to improve and maintain cognitive function in older adults (Satoh et al., 2014; 2017). Based on these previous studies, it is suggested that music is useful for improving and maintaining cognitive functions, but the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully investigated. In this lecture, we will first learn about the basics, current status, and challenges of music therapy. Next, with the cooperation of Dr. Yuko Shindo from Shirankai Shirankai Hikarigaoka Hospital, we will learn how the effects of music therapy, music-supported therapy, and background music in day care are tested scientifically. Specifically, the participants in this class will learn what kind of cognitive and musical function assessments are used to verify the effects of music interventions on cognitive function, motivation, depression, etc., and the relationship between these effects and musical background. In addition, the participants in this class will visit Shirankai Hikarigaoka Hospital in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, to observe music therapy, music-assisted therapy, and the use of background music in a day care setting, as well as to practice cognitive and musical function assessments. Finally, the participants will also learn how to analyze data and perform statistical analysis of data obtained from cognitive and musical assessments.