The challenges and benefits of a genuine partnership between Music Therapy and Neuroscience: a dialog between scientist and therapist.

Author: Magee WL1, Stewart L2.
Affiliation: 1Music Therapy Program, Boyer College of Music and Dance, Temple University Philadelphia, PA, USA. 2Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London London, UK.
Conference/Journal: Front Hum Neurosci.
Date published: 2015 May 1
Other: Volume ID: 9 , Pages: 223 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00223 , Word Count: 111



Collaborations between neuroscience and music therapy promise many mutual benefits given the different knowledge bases, experiences and specialist skills possessed by each discipline. Primarily, music therapists deliver music-based interventions on a daily basis with numerous populations; neuroscientists measure clinical changes in ways that provide an evidence base for progressing clinical care. Although recent developments suggest that partnerships between the two can produce positive outcomes for both fields, these collaborations are not considered mainstream. The following dialog between an experienced professional from each discipline explores the potential for collaboration, as well as the misconceptions that may be preventing further synergies from developing.
KEYWORDS:
clinical protocols; debate; interdisciplinary; music therapy; neuroscience; patients
PMID: 25983683