Music as the Goal of Training and Means of Rehabilitation: Evidence from Brain Science

During the past three decades, our knowledge about brain functions and its structures underlying music perception, performance, and emotions has accumulated relatively quickly. Cortical and subcortical brain areas involved in these musical functions have been identified using various techniques and paradigms. In the present talk, I will introduce recent findings revealing enhanced brain mechanisms during long-term musical training, as well as by informal music activities at home. Furthermore, I will present examples of how casual music activities, such as music listening and singing, can be used in neurological rehabilitation to promote health and wellbeing in patients and their family members. In sum, these findings promote the use of music in formal and informal settings across the whole life span in healthy participants, as well as with individuals with special needs.