Music Therapy Improves Stroke Outcomes

(Page 2)

The researchers said three neural mechanisms may be involved in how music helps stroke patients' recovery:

• Enhanced alertness, attention and mood, mediated by a part of the nervous system (the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic system) that plays a role in pleasure, reward, arousal, motivation and memory.
• Direct stimulation of the recovery of damaged areas of the brain.
• Simulation of mechanisms related to brain plasticity -- the ability of the brain to repair and renew its neural networks after damage.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about stroke rehabilitation.