Kun Feng1, Chen-Yu Shen2, Xiang-Yun Ma3, Gui-Fang Chen4, Ming-Lu Zhang5, Bo Xu2, Xiao-Min Liu2, Jing-Jing Sun6, Xiao-Qian Zhang1, Po-Zi Liu7, Ya Ju8. 1. School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; YuQuan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10000 China. 2. YuQuan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10000 China. 3. Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing, China. 4. School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. 5. Bruce Copen Laboratories (Since 1947) GmbH & Co. KG Meisenweg 19a 82152 Krailling, Germany. 6. YuQuan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10000 China; Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China. 7. YuQuan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10000 China. Electronic address: liupozi@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn. 8. Bruce Copen Laboratories (Since 1947) GmbH & Co. KG Meisenweg 19a 82152 Krailling, Germany. Electronic address: juya.china@gmail.com.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a recurrent, chronic mental illness. While music therapy has been established as an effective treatment for MDD patients, the effects of this therapy on brain function remain unclear. This research employed near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to explore the effects of music therapy on brain activity in mild or moderate MDD patients and to illustrate the potential mechanism of music therapy. Methods: Fifteen MDD patients and fifteen healthy controls (HC) underwent neuropsychological evaluations and NIRS measurements. All participants were treated with continuous music therapy for 10 days. Subsequently, all individuals were evaluated with neuropsychological assessments and NIRS measurements again. Results: The verbal fluency task (VFT) performances of the participants yielded significantly higher scores after music therapy in terms of vegetables, four-footed animals and fruit blocks. After the music treatment, the NIRS data showed that the mean active oxy-Hb values of channels 21, 23, 19, and 41 were significantly increased in both the MDD and HC groups. The MDD group showed significant activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) after music therapy. The results indicate that music therapy could improve the brain function of MDD patients.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a recurrent, chronic mental illness. While music therapy has been established as an effective treatment for MDDpatients, the effects of this therapy on brain function remain unclear. This research employed near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to explore the effects of music therapy on brain activity in mild or moderate MDDpatients and to illustrate the potential mechanism of music therapy. Methods: Fifteen MDDpatients and fifteen healthy controls (HC) underwent neuropsychological evaluations and NIRS measurements. All participants were treated with continuous music therapy for 10 days. Subsequently, all individuals were evaluated with neuropsychological assessments and NIRS measurements again. Results: The verbal fluency task (VFT) performances of the participants yielded significantly higher scores after music therapy in terms of vegetables, four-footed animals and fruit blocks. After the music treatment, the NIRS data showed that the mean active oxy-Hb values of channels 21, 23, 19, and 41 were significantly increased in both the MDD and HC groups. The MDD group showed significant activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) after music therapy. The results indicate that music therapy could improve the brain function of MDDpatients.
Authors: Cyrus S H Ho; Lucas J H Lim; A Q Lim; Nicole H C Chan; R S Tan; S H Lee; Roger C M Ho Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2020-05-06 Impact factor: 4.157