Creative music therapy with premature infants

Background: Premature infants (PI) demonstrate a high incidence of white and grey matter abnormalities as well as neurobehavioral delay. Since individualized interactive experiences and music may alter brain development, the question arises as to whether Creative Music Therapy (CMT) might promote brain development by facilitating nurturing socio-emotional and auditory interactive experiences at the same time.Methods: A randomized controlled trial is conducted to test a possible influence of CMT on the premature infants’ brain structure and function. About 30 PI receive CMT during their hospitalization time and 30 randomized PI without music therapy serve as control group. MR imaging measurements are performed in order to assess brain growth and development at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age.Insights: First insights in this ongoing RCT will be presented. The study hypothesizes that the experimental group will demonstrate improved brain growth and development, e.g. larger global and regional brain vol

Brain development · Brain function · Brain Structure and Function · Developmental psychology · Music therapy · Neuroimaging · Psychotherapist · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Music Therapy and Health · Neonatal and fetal brain pathology · Neuroscience · Psychology