MUSIC AND THE BRAIN: NEUROLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MUSICAL EXPERIENCE Many parts of the brain are involved in the appreciation of music and the perfor- mance of music. In studies on the responses of the brain to music, neurologists are particularly concerned with components of musical life in relation to a person’s capacity to read, comprehend, compose or perform music. Modern neurology emerged from around 1850, with the development of concepts around the localiza- tion of function in the brain. Some German neurologists analysed disturbances of musical function in patients with brain disease and attempted to find the responsible lesions. Knoblauch introduced the term ‘amusia’, which means an impaired capacity for musical activity. Sensory amusia is the inability to hear, read or understand music, while motor amusia is difficulties in singing or writing music, or instrumental per- formance. These amusias were initially attributed to lesions in the left, or dominant, hemisphere of the brain. However, research has shown that it is not that simple, and different aspects of musical activity will be impaired by either right, left or localized cerebral damage. Experiments involving the temporary paralysis of function in the right hemisphere resulted in defects in singing, and the perception of melody, while speech remained intact. Conversely, temporary paralysis to the left side of the brain (or permanent damage as in the case of a stroke) revealed that people could sing much better than they could speak. This has been utilized in music therapy by music Learn Violin / Piano - 01715412132
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 16:55:04 +0000
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