In this article from the Bradenton Herald, a new type of neuro-feedback treatment is discussed as a way to influence brain activity. Dr. George Rozelle, a psycho- and neurotherapist, is only the second doctor in his field to be working with brain music therapy. In this form of therapy, brain waves are recorded with an EEG at different times, while the activity levels in the brain are either deeply relaxed or active. The brain waves are then converted into music through the use of a mathematical formula. This music is played back to the patient from whose brain the music originated, and whose brain recognizes the frequencies of the music. With this mechanism, the music re-calibrates the brain and induces different levels of activity, which can help patients relax and fall asleep, wake up, or just improve the functioning of the brain.
Brain music therapy has been commonly used in Europe, and can treat conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, and substance abuse. This article is fascinating because it combines music and the physiology of the brain to treat people in a very relaxed and completely nonintrusive way. One must wonder: would other forms of music therapy be able to treat different kinds of conditions?
Another effect brain music therapy seems to have is on pets. They apparently pick up on the music and show their response through their own behavior, such as becoming more relaxed and affectionate. What kind of effects would brain music therapy have on humans other than the patient from whom it originated?
This article is very interesting! Sometimes I wish I could put my dogs to sleep with music. So I wonder if in the coming years they will try to market things like this, and if it will actually work on a larger scale rather than an individual basis.
ReplyDeleteI do find the ablility to control how the brain functions to be very interesting. Does the state of mind when the brain waves are taken determine what the effect the music will have on the brain?
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