Neuropharmacology

Biography

Biography: Julian O’Kelly

Abstract

Music therapists have been researching the effects of music therapy with those in coma, vegetative and minimally conscious states for over thirty years. There is a need for more standardised, evidence based approaches using concensus nomenclature, and greater dialogue with neuroscience in future work. This perspective has informed the development of a standardised assessment tool, the ‘Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness in Disorders of Consciousness’ and a five year long research programme exploring the effects of music therapy in the assessment and rehabilitation for those with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC), using behavioural and neurophysiological measures. Findings from the authors doctoral research will be presented alongside preliminary data from a cross-over study comparing the rehabilitative and prognostic potential of music therapy to preferred text narration, using a range of neurophysiological measures (EEG, heart rate variability, respiration) and video time sampled behavioral data. Findings will be discussed in relation to the complexity of the field of research, and the potential of music therapy as a tool for revealing what intact brain network activity exists in those with PDOC. Reflections will be provided on the relevance of these findings to the UK model of neuro-rehabilitation and the sustainability of music therapy in this competitive market.