Looking back at human history, our
ancestors appeared roughly several million years ago, and modern humans emerged
tens of thousands of years later [1]. Art began with the discovery of paintings
in the Lascaux caves. It is believed that music first developed from the rhythm
of percussion instruments and the intonation of the human voice, resulting in
some kind of melody [2]. In modern times, art and music are essential to our
lives. By adding art and music to medical and healthcare practices, art therapy
and music therapy can be provided to clients and patients who need treatment.
Concerning everlasting human spirit,
ancient Confucianism and Daoism have been evaluated as milestones, which has
transcended across long time, space and various culture. The relationship
between brain-mind-spirt and sound-tone-music have been discussed for long, and
human spirit seems to be the key to make humanity and music co-exist together
for long history [3]. In the light of integrative aspects, several factors are
indispensable including kindness, sincerity, and creativity for significant,
powerful and fantastic lives in each person. Continuing lifelong development,
responsiveness, flexibility and proactivity will be highlighted for supporting
musical and meaningful lives which can promote for prosperous lifepath.
The author and collaborators have
continued medical research for Integrative Medicine Japan (IMJ) [4]. IMJ has
several divisions in Japan, among which we have managed various activities in
Shikoku Island division of IMJ [5]. They included art therapy, music therapy,
combined treatment of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and
Hinohara-ism philosophy by New Elderly Association (NEA) [6]. Among several
types of activities, art therapy seems to be most enjoyable and useful measure
[7]. When considering music as a subject of medical research, there are the
following approaches. The first is research into so-called music therapy, which
utilizes music in medical treatment. The second is research into illnesses and
injuries specific to musicians. The third is research into the use of medical
techniques to improve the skills of musicians. These three approaches are
recognized [8].
Humans have found music as
psychological feeling as happy, fearful, sad or spiritual [9] (Figure 1).
Historically, they have recognized music as excited, soothed or various
feeling. Psychological responses to music have been related with some
perspectives. They include early expression, universality and
domain-specificity. Music has inherent complexity for itself, and then the
simple definitions cannot be decided. It includes multifaceted matters and
music listening will give neurological and psychological benefits associated
with certain responses [10]. As acoustic stimulus, music or ambient noise may
affect psychological and physiological well-being or health for humans [11].
Auditory intervention can affect any organism, which influences gene
expression, immune responses, neural circuitry and neurotransmitter regulation.
For safer and cost-effective intervention, music therapy has been recognized as
substantial potential for treating various neurological situations.
Music therapy has two main
categories, which are active interventions and passive interventions. When
people listen to classical music, natural sounds, or Western music, it may
bring patient feel reduced anxiety, leading to decreased heart rate, blood
pressure and cortisol levels. The previous report can give the comparison of
Indian music, Western music, classical music and natural sounds. In addition,
it may clarify the influence of classical structure and human body for music
therapy [12]. Cross-modal influences of music were studied for neural
entrainment for individualized music in patients with consciousness disorders
[13]. It was conducted using phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) measurement.
Furthermore, preferred music (PM) and relaxing music (RM) were assessed for the
effect of individualized music. PM, RM and other factors are summarized in
Figure 1. As a result, individualized music may be served as potential
therapeutic measurement for consciousness disorders through cross-modal
influences. They were proved to rely on enhanced theta and gamma PAC for
consciousness-related network.
Music has been present in all societies with universal acoustic
features. It is processed by certain human neural circuits, which is no matter
how the person has musical training before or not [14]. By artificial deep
neural network which would model auditory processing in the brain, some units
synchronized to music can automatically develop for detecting natural sound,
even if with or without music experience [15]?Figure 2?. Music would be the complex phenomenon associated with combination of
multiple brain areas and neural connections. Music listening can improve human
cognitive functions such as attention span, memory, and behavioral augmentation
[16]. For medical rehabilitation, music-related measurement has higher
prevalence of success for the treatment of anxiety and depression. It has also
higher successful ratio even in neurological disorders for the cases regaining
the body integrity after a stroke episode.
The characteristics of mental
representations of music rhythm from 15 countries were analyzed [17]. As a
result, different integer ratios were various across the groups, and they
reflected local musical practices. These suggested the common feature of music
cognition, where discrete rhythm categories exist for small integer ratios.
Precise synchronization and related rhythm interaction in music may influence
various human behavior [18]. Temporally aligned rhythm in short seconds for
time period has been regulated by neural pacemakers. On the other hand, the
interactions with long time period have existed as more than 24 hours, which
can originate for biological clocks. When people listen to music, we usually
predict about what kind of melody will come next [10]. Such enactive aspect for
future prediction has brought more comprehensive understanding for music
processing in the brain, associated with functions of emotion, action and
learning.
By cross-sectional investigation,
several differences of brains were identified between musicians and
non-musicians [19]. They included especially related regions for motor control
and auditory function processing. As some predictors for musical learning
success, the microstructure of arcuate fasciculus, elevated brain activation
for auditory and motor systems during listening, and functional connection
between auditory and motor systems. From these, the musical brain has been a
product of both training practice and human neurodiversity. Music has been
evaluated for powerful tool for welfare of captive animals that are especially
farm animals, associated with enriching life environment. The efficacy of
adequate sound simulation for captive animals were investigated [20]. Emotions
seem to be functional status of the organisms associated with physiological
neural processes, behavioral changes, contextual perception, influences for
various aspects and well-being.
In summary, recent perspectives have
been introduced concerning the relationship among music, humanity and medical
practice. It has long history and includes various related factors of
integrative medicine, psychosomatic medicine art therapy and music therapy.
This report will be hopefully useful for future medical research and practice.