TY - JOUR
T1 - Vocal music enhances memory and language recovery after stroke
T2 - pooled results from two RCTs
AU - Sihvonen, Aleksi J.
AU - Leo, Vera
AU - Ripollés, Pablo
AU - Lehtovaara, Terhi
AU - Ylönen, Aki
AU - Rajanaro, Pekka
AU - Laitinen, Sari
AU - Forsblom, Anita
AU - Saunavaara, Jani
AU - Autti, Taina
AU - Laine, Matti
AU - Rodríguez-Fornells, Antoni
AU - Tervaniemi, Mari
AU - Soinila, Seppo
AU - Särkämö, Teppo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Neurological Association
PY - 2020/11
Y1 - 2020/11
N2 - Objective: Previous studies suggest that daily music listening can aid stroke recovery, but little is known about the stimulus-dependent and neural mechanisms driving this effect. Building on neuroimaging evidence that vocal music engages extensive and bilateral networks in the brain, we sought to determine if it would be more effective for enhancing cognitive and language recovery and neuroplasticity than instrumental music or speech after stroke. Methods: Using data pooled from two single-blind randomized controlled trials in stroke patients (N = 83), we compared the effects of daily listening to self-selected vocal music, instrumental music, and audiobooks during the first 3 poststroke months. Outcome measures comprised neuropsychological tests of verbal memory (primary outcome), language, and attention and a mood questionnaire performed at acute, 3-month, and 6-month stages and structural and functional MRI at acute and 6-month stages. Results: Listening to vocal music enhanced verbal memory recovery more than instrumental music or audiobooks and language recovery more than audiobooks, especially in aphasic patients. Voxel-based morphometry and resting-state and task-based fMRI results showed that vocal music listening selectively increased gray matter volume in left temporal areas and functional connectivity in the default mode network. Interpretation: Vocal music listening is an effective and easily applicable tool to support cognitive recovery after stroke as well as to enhance early language recovery in aphasia. The rehabilitative effects of vocal music are driven by both structural and functional plasticity changes in temporoparietal networks crucial for emotional processing, language, and memory.
AB - Objective: Previous studies suggest that daily music listening can aid stroke recovery, but little is known about the stimulus-dependent and neural mechanisms driving this effect. Building on neuroimaging evidence that vocal music engages extensive and bilateral networks in the brain, we sought to determine if it would be more effective for enhancing cognitive and language recovery and neuroplasticity than instrumental music or speech after stroke. Methods: Using data pooled from two single-blind randomized controlled trials in stroke patients (N = 83), we compared the effects of daily listening to self-selected vocal music, instrumental music, and audiobooks during the first 3 poststroke months. Outcome measures comprised neuropsychological tests of verbal memory (primary outcome), language, and attention and a mood questionnaire performed at acute, 3-month, and 6-month stages and structural and functional MRI at acute and 6-month stages. Results: Listening to vocal music enhanced verbal memory recovery more than instrumental music or audiobooks and language recovery more than audiobooks, especially in aphasic patients. Voxel-based morphometry and resting-state and task-based fMRI results showed that vocal music listening selectively increased gray matter volume in left temporal areas and functional connectivity in the default mode network. Interpretation: Vocal music listening is an effective and easily applicable tool to support cognitive recovery after stroke as well as to enhance early language recovery in aphasia. The rehabilitative effects of vocal music are driven by both structural and functional plasticity changes in temporoparietal networks crucial for emotional processing, language, and memory.
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U2 - 10.1002/acn3.51217
DO - 10.1002/acn3.51217
M3 - Article
C2 - 33022148
AN - SCOPUS:85092093870
SN - 2328-9503
VL - 7
SP - 2272
EP - 2287
JO - Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
JF - Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
IS - 11
ER -