Thesis
Use of clinical improvisation to improve attention and memory deficits in stroke patients: the role of neuroplasticity in the recovering brain: a critical review of the literature
Master of Arts (M.A.), Drexel University
Jun 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-7360
Abstract
Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer from a stroke (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Following a stroke, many individuals suffer from a variety of deficits in the areas of cognitive, emotional, and motor functioning. Of these, it has been discovered that attention and memory deficits are not only the most vulnerable areas of functioning, but are also directly linked to functional outcomes and perceived quality of life. While some cognitive rehabilitation interventions identified in the literature have produced uncertain and inconsistent results, specific types of work with music have been consistently identified as making a statistically significant improvement in the areas of attention and memory for stroke survivors. It has also been found that the use of clinical improvisation as an intervention within the field of music therapy has been very beneficial for achieving a variety of treatment goals, as it allows the music therapist to continuously respond to the client's in the moment musical and non-musical behaviors. This paper explores the current treatment options available to stroke survivors, as well as it addresses the role of neuroplasticity in the healing brain. The current understanding of neuroplasticity is then applied to musical processing to more clearly explore why music has been successful for improving attention and memory, as well as a variety of other deficits in various populations. Lastly, this paper is used as a way to advocate for a model of improvisation to be designed to address the attention and memory deficits specifically in survivors of stroke.
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Details
- Title
- Use of clinical improvisation to improve attention and memory deficits in stroke patients
- Creators
- Molly Elizabeth Brown - DU
- Contributors
- Florence Ierardi (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)Linda D. Marston-Burk (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- 57 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Creative Arts Therapies; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 7360; 991014632322504721