Research published in the journal Brain (3 March, 2008 131(3):866-876) found that listening to music can speed recovery from a stroke. The subjects were 60 stroke patients in Finland. They were randomly divided into three groups. One group listened to music (that they chose). One group listened to audio books, and the third group listened to neither.
The music chosen had lyrics that could be understood by the patients. Patients who listened to their favorite music for a couple hours each day had more improvement in attention span and memory, and experienced less depression, when compared to subjects who did not listen to music.
Music helps to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter and enhances arousal of the part of the brain associated with feelings of pleasure. Dopamine increases attention, memory, alertness and speeds up information processing. Music also enhances repair to damaged areas of the brain.
A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study appearing in the European Journal of Pain (2008; 12(3): 301-13) looked at the effect a combination of music and butterbur had on children with migraine headaches. The subjects received music therapy, butterbur extract or a placebo. Both the music therapy and the butterbur extract were found to reduce the frequency and intensity of the headaches.
