高齡者的音樂治療：認知神經科學的觀點

Music Therapy for the Elderly: Perspectives from Cognitive Neuroscience

10.6279/JHSSM.2015.2(1).05

蔡振家；曾念生

音樂認知 ； 神經科學 ； 音樂治療 ； 老化 ； Music cognition ； Neurosciences ； Music therapy ； Aging

人文社會與醫療學刊

2期（2015 / 05 / 01）

87 - 106

繁體中文

興起於二十世紀下半葉的音樂治療，是以音樂作為醫療或其他場域裡的一種介入方式，治療對象涵蓋各個年齡層，包括高齡病患。本文從認知神經科學的觀點，探索音樂治療的學理基礎，特別聚焦於跟老化有關的疾病與心智功能衰退，分析音樂在運動、情感、認知層面的功效。近年的腦造影實驗與臨床研究顯示，讓音樂發揮療效的關鍵腦區經常位於額葉，包括前運動皮質、背外側前額葉、腹外側前額葉、中央前額葉。本文指出音樂對於高齡者的效益，以及未來發展的可能方向，希望音樂治療在臺灣醫界能夠有更豐富、更細膩的研究與應用。

After the second half of 20th century, music therapy is thought of as the professional use of music as an intervention in medical or other environments. The clients come from a wide range of ages, including the elder people. This article explores the theoretical foundations of music therapy in light of cognitive neurosciences. We focus on diseases and decline of mental functions in the elderly, analyzing the beneficial effects of music on motor, affective, and cognitive functions. Recent brain-imaging studies and clinical research suggest that the brain areas responsible for the therapeutic effects of music are usually located in the frontal lobe, including the premotor cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex. By indicating the beneficial effects of music in the elderly and some future directions, we hope music therapy will develop more elaborated conceptions, models, and applications in Taiwan.