Science Article Summary #14

Gill, V. “Singing ‘rewires’ damaged brain.” BBC News. February 21, 2010. BBC MMX [Internet]. [accessed Feb 21, 2010] Available from:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/8526699.stm

Singing ‘rewires’ damaged brain

There is new hope for stroke patients who have damaged the part of the brain responsible for speech. If one’s “speech centre,” which is on the left side of the brain, is damaged by a stroke, they can learn to use their “singing centre” on the right side of the brain.

At the annual meeting of the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Diego, researchers presented finding from their ongoing clinical trial led by Gottfried Schalaug, a neurology professor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. The trial is focused on how the brain responds to what they refer to as “melodic intonation therapy.”

This therapy is not new in the medical field. It was first used on stroke patients who had damaged the left side of their brain, but were still able to sing. This study combines the melodic intonation therapy with brain imaging so that researchers can actually see what’s happening as patients sing their words. Brain imaging studies have previously shown that the “singing centre” in the right side of the brain of professional singers is overdeveloped. It is believed that it can be developed in stroke patients through therapy. Brain imaging provides a means for monitoring the activity in the brain and the progress made with therapy.

Dr. Nina Kraus, a neuroscientist from Northwestern University has also conducted studies of the brain’s responses to music by using electrodes attached to the scalp. Since neurons function with electrical impulses, they can be played back through speakers to hear how the brain processes sounds. Dr. Kraus suggests that musical training can enhance the performance of reading and other tasks as well as speech and should be encouraged as a part of a child’s education.