International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Pavilion Marie-Victorin, 90 Avenue Vincent D'Indy, Montreal, QC, H2V 2S9, Canada.
Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM), Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Rabinovitch House, 3640 de la Montagne, Montreal, QC, H3G 2A8, Canada.
Transl Psychiatry. 2018 Oct 23;8(1):231. doi: 10.1038/s41398-018-0287-3.
Music has been identified as a strength in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder; however, there is currently no neuroscientific evidence supporting its benefits. Given its universal appeal, intrinsic reward value and ability to modify brain and behaviour, music may be a potential therapeutic aid in autism. Here we evaluated the neurobehavioural outcomes of a music intervention, compared to a non-music control intervention, on social communication and brain connectivity in school-age children (ISRCTN26821793). Fifty-one children aged 6-12 years with autism were randomized to receive 8-12 weeks of music (n = 26) or non-music intervention (n = 25). The music intervention involved use of improvisational approaches through song and rhythm to target social communication. The non-music control was a structurally matched behavioural intervention implemented in a non-musical context. Groups were assessed before and after intervention on social communication and resting-state functional connectivity of fronto-temporal brain networks. Communication scores were higher in the music group post-intervention (difference score = 4.84, P = .01). Associated post-intervention resting-state brain functional connectivity was greater in music vs. non-music groups between auditory and subcortical regions (z = 3.94, P < .0001) and auditory and fronto-motor regions (z = 3.16, P < .0001). Post-intervention brain connectivity was lower between auditory and visual regions in the music compared to the non-music groups, known to be over-connected in autism (z = 4.01, P < .00001). Post-intervention brain connectivity in the music group was related to communication improvement (z = 3.57, P < .0001). This study provides the first evidence that 8-12 weeks of individual music intervention can indeed improve social communication and functional brain connectivity, lending support to further investigations of neurobiologically motivated models of music interventions in autism.
音乐已被确定为自闭症谱系障碍患者的优势之一；然而，目前尚无支持其益处的神经科学证据。鉴于其普遍吸引力、内在奖励价值以及改变大脑和行为的能力，音乐可能是自闭症的一种潜在治疗辅助手段。在这里，我们评估了音乐干预（n=26）与非音乐对照干预（n=25）对学龄儿童（ISRCTN26821793）社会沟通和大脑连通性的神经行为结果。51 名 6-12 岁的自闭症儿童被随机分配接受 8-12 周的音乐（n=26）或非音乐干预（n=25）。音乐干预包括通过歌曲和节奏使用即兴方法来针对社会沟通。非音乐对照组是在非音乐环境中实施的结构匹配行为干预。在干预前后，两组均进行社会沟通和额颞叶大脑网络静息状态功能连通性评估。干预后音乐组的沟通评分更高（差异评分=4.84，P=0.01）。与非音乐组相比，音乐组在听觉和皮质下区域之间（z=3.94，P<0.0001）以及听觉和额运动区域之间（z=3.16，P<0.0001）的静息状态大脑功能连通性增加。与非音乐组相比，音乐组在听觉和视觉区域之间的静息状态大脑连通性较低，这在自闭症中被认为是过度连接的（z=4.01，P<0.00001）。音乐组的静息状态大脑连通性与沟通改善相关（z=3.57，P<0.0001）。这项研究首次提供了 8-12 周的个体音乐干预确实可以改善社会沟通和功能性大脑连通性的证据，为进一步研究自闭症中基于神经生物学的音乐干预模型提供了支持。
