Arts & Neuroscience

Neurodegenerative Disease (e.g. MS, Parkinson's disease)

Geriatric Rehabilitation

Symposium

(619425) Music and Movement: Musical Factors That Affect Gait

Presenter(s)

• 

  Jessica Grahn, PhD

  Associate Professor
  Western University
  London, Ontario

Music moves us, and simply listening to music activates movement areas in the brain. Music can also improve the motor symptoms of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Currently, however, we do not know whether individuals' musical abilities matter, or indeed what music characteristics may be important for music to help movement. Here I will discuss studies that shed light on these issues, and the implications of this research for music-focused interventions with patients.

Learning Objectives:

• describe common approaches to use of music to alter gait
• list musical factors that may be relevant to music's efficacy in altering movement
• describe how music has been shown to affect gait