Henry, an iPod, and the Alchemy of Music
Syndicated from huffingtonpost.ca, Apr 17, 2012
Smell may be the sense most associated with memory, but hearing just took a big leap in the same direction.
Alive Inside, a documentary premiering next week in New York, investigates a social worker's attempt to engage seniors with dementia and Alzheimer's at a nursing home. When he discovers how well it works, he brings in neurologist Oliver Sacks, and the two embark on an experiment to see music's impact on this population.
The video above has become a viral hit as more people discover it, and it's no surprise -- people's connection with music, particularly music from their younger years, elicits strong emotions, and some researchers have even suggested it as a necessity for people.
Ray Mueller, a member of the Shumei Arts Council of America’s Advisory Board, told Psychology Suite 101, “Research has located specific areas of mental activity linked to emotional responses to music. It seems music is a human need and the brain is able to act as a function to satisfy that need.”
For older populations, music has been associated with everything from helping uncover memories in patients with Alzheimer's to reducing falls during exercise.
The video is also affiliated with Music & Memory, an organization dedicated to helping seniors connect to music, including collecting used iPods for donation.
This article is reprinted with permission from the Huffington Post's Good News Channel. More from them: Man Who Was Given 14 Days To Live Climbs The World's 7 Highest Peaks A Ugandan Teen's Incredible Journey From A Village School To Harvard 10-Year-Old Invents Groundbreaking Video Game For The Visually Disabled
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5 Past Reflections
On Apr 17, 2012 Arlene wrote:
I lead drum circles in nursing homes and day care centers. I have 20 small drums and each person drums which creates a vibration which goes in the ears and vibrates the water around the brain, the spinal column and every organ. One vibration creates another and help put organs into their proper tune. Listening to music is great but drumming gentle drum strokes and singing old songs...Alzheimer's always remember the songs...is even a more powerful healing.
I invite each to use their own voice...to hum, to tone and finally to laugh. That creates the highest energy of the day. With meditation, it can lower blood pressure, stress and put people to sleep.
On Apr 17, 2012 Noor a.f wrote:
It is surprising how music touches life. I really enjoy music when am sad there are some tpye and when am happy there is a type. Emotional music helps me get a little strength.
I don't enjoy classic and I become like the singer if the music interests me. May God help the man.
On Apr 17, 2012 Dr Jo wrote:
I worked at a nursing home for a year doing my postdoc hours. It was a home filled with a lot of dementia, depression and sadness. I started a music group. Each week, I would play music from the residents' era of growing up. At first, I only had one or two attendees. Soon, the room was full (and the staff was hanging out at the door)! The residents sang, shared memories and came alive. It was such a blessing to be a part of it all! Music really does touch a place inside that brings people alive!
On Apr 17, 2012 Deneen wrote:
What a wonderful story! Music is so powerful! I have experienced it in my own way when my mother, who is a stroke patient, called and sang happy birthday to me on my answering machine. Her voice was as strong and clear as ever, and I cherish that memory. I encourage everyone to use music as a way to reconnect, you never know what you can awaken in someone special!
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On Apr 18, 2012 Mike Anderson wrote:
Arlen, you're a lovely example of the kind of "vibrational" nonsense that surrounds our culture today. Music is about emotion, the soul, not vibrations, not some mystical "energy" that "puts organs in tune".
Music is frankly MUCH too important to be subjected to this sort of shallow New Age silliness! BTW I named my son after Oliver Sacks. You'd do well to pay attention to his teachings.
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