Music Therapy and Stroke Recovery Part 3

Steve Makofka

The short report that I got back from the neurologist was that the EEG showed no unusual results or significant changes while the subject was engaged in memory recovery using Heart Song techniques and listening to music selections discovered in the Life Soundtrack. This was actually the expected result. Both the subject and I knew in advance that the EEG was probably not the right tool for measure the kind of brain activity we were tracking. So if we knew that in advance, why bother? Here are the benefits we received from participating in the study.


1) We had an idea and acted on it. Sure, the neurologist probably could have told us in advance that our activity wouldn't produce any significant EEG results. But now we know for sure.

2) The subject recovered some significant memories in a pleasurable setting. His recollection of his early piano lesson and being able to think about his old piano, his teacher, and the music he played brought long buried memories back to the surface and produced warm feelings of nostalgia.

3) I learned some valuable lessons in how to set up clinical trials, and also learned how much I have to learn. Gaining insight into one's own ignorance can be very valuable.

So, yes, I believe it was time well spent. And I know that the next study will be even more valuable since it will benefit from the lessons learned in this study.