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Geneva, Switzerland – A groundbreaking study has revealed that specific melodies can significantly enhance brain development in premature infants. Researchers at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) have observed this phenomenon over several years and now have a deeper understanding of how music impacts specific brain regions.
Premature birth often leads to difficulties with attention and emotional regulation later in life. To address this, the HUG team has been exploring the therapeutic potential of music for over a decade.
How it Works:
- Targeted Exposure: The study involved exposing premature infants (born around 29 weeks) to carefully selected music composed by Andreas Vollenweider.
- Personalized Approach: Music was administered individually through headphones during transitions between sleep and wakefulness, creating a soothing and predictable rhythm for the babies.
- Brain Connectivity: MRI scans demonstrated improved connectivity within the “salience” network of the brain, crucial for identifying and responding to important sounds and stimuli. This network is often underdeveloped in preterm infants.
Long-Term Impact:
- Ongoing Research: The researchers are currently following the first cohort of infants (now 8 years old) to assess long-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes.
- AI Integration: To make music therapy more accessible, the team is developing AI-powered systems to automatically identify optimal times for music exposure based on each infant’s individual cues.
Potential for Widespread Adoption:
If the long-term benefits are confirmed, music therapy could become a standard part of care for premature infants worldwide. This research offers a promising avenue for improving the neurodevelopmental outcomes of these vulnerable children.
Source: Annemijn Van Der Veek et al, Longitudinal functional brain connectivity maturation in premature newborn infants: Modulatory influence of early music enrichment, Imaging Neuroscience (2024). DOI: 10.1162/imag_a_00373
Note: This article is a summary and may not include all details from the original research.
