As scientists study the way music affects the brain, new research has begun to show that music therapy techniques may have sparked the key to rehabilitation for patients with brain damage. Neurologist Catherine Wan from Harvard Medical School is working with her colleagues to work towards combining music therapy to aid with physical and mental rehabilitation.

These theories are not new, however, as musical therapy has been around for decades. Since the 1940s, researchers and therapists have seen a development in patient rehabilitation that began with wounded war veterans relearning how to walk to the beat of Big Band music. Since then, music therapists have used the same treatment on patients with various forms of neurological damage, such as Parkinson's disease and strokes.Researches have realized the pattern is consistent, as the beat and rhythm found in music helps the brain anticipate timing.

In the case of walking, it allows patients to determine when to step, and eventually create a rhythm to walk to. Through this repetition, those with brain damage are able to attain a sense of balance and focus, and in effect create an even walking stride.  

 Not only is music able to help patients regain control when learning to walk again, but also new case studies have shown a recent development in restoring speech through music. Similar therapies have been used on congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who after being shot in the head by a deranged gunman last year, was forced to undertake intense speech therapy. Giffords underwent music therapy where she would sing simple songs, such as "Happy Birthday" to regain her speaking ability. Part of the therapy included working backwards on the songs, with her therapist beginning the tune and Giffords finishing. As the therapy progressed, Giffords was eventually able to sing the song in its entirety. Scientists are still unsure of the exact details of how this type of therapy works and how music is affecting parts of the brain, but there are theories of how it works.

"One theory is that music is able to short-circuit the damaged area through repetition," explained Lee Anna Rasar, a musical therapist at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire according to a Discovery News article. "It creates a new pathway in and people can then use that pathway out."

"The theory makes a lot of sense," said Wan. "But studies are only just starting to back it up."

Wan later stated that there is a theory involving patients listening to music and developing a stored knowledge of words, and from that are able to begin articulating words and phrases better than with other forms of treatments. Studies are beginning to show data that backs up this theory, but more research is still needed.

Along with her colleagues, Wan found that in a study with six autistic children who could not speak, music therapy helped them in creating and pronouncing their words.  Some had shown improvement after only eight weeks of using music therapy, whereas in the past they were unable to communicate after years of other treatments.

Wan stresses that although there are signs of improvement from music-based therapy, it is important not to jump to conclusions and rule out any other factors that might be helping.

"It is hoped that future research can help to disentangle the relative contribution of factors to why singing works," said Wan. "This may ultimately lead to the development of specialized or ‘gold-standard' treatments for these disorders, and to an improvement in the quality of life for patients."