Thursday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., the Bowers Writers House invited students to explore the question “Can music really change the brain?” The discussion was led by professor of music Dr. Gene A. Behrens, whose career as a music therapist spans four decades in a variety of settings. Currently presiding over a variety of different diagnoses, Behrens’ specialty is in the area of emotional coping skills used to cope with a variety of different traumatizing events.
Throughout her presentation, Behrens referred to the question “Does music change your brain?” As we all know, music effects our mood and relaxes our bodies and emotions, but what about our brains? Behrens discussed how the history of our understanding of music and the brain has been challenged by recent neuroimaging research.
In the 1970s, technological advances drastically changed how we understand the neurological changes that occur because of various forms of mental health disorders, especially trauma.
When people experience trauma, the parts of their brain that control decision making and the reward/motivation function break. This leads to certain diagnoses in people who have autism, are going through depression or are experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Music has a positive influence on the neural processing of individuals dealing with PTSD. Whether it is listening to or playing music, it influences brain activity by creating more auditory and visual sensorimotor circuits.
Behrens shared a variety of video clips observing students in the occupational therapy (OT) department working with clients in their practicum. It was a great way to tie everything from the presentation to what Behrens does in her field. The recorded sessions were intriguing to the audience as they saw the development and the changes that each practicum brings towards the client working with them.
Behrens elaborated further with what it is like working with clients with precognitive trauma and students through the practicum.
“This young man’s resiliency is inspiring, and he continually teaches me each session about his responses to trauma and how to best interact with music to help him self-regulate and interact with others,” Behrens said.
“Music therapy students learn about changing to a neurological perspective in thinking and to improvise music to meet his needs that can change in a moment,” Behrens continued. “I am touched as I watch students develop a key relationship with him through music. We are fortunate that this family has reached out to us and provided this unique clinical experience to the students to learn so much about themselves and presenting music through interactions using music.”
The people in attendance were members of the community, professors and students who represented music therapy and cognitive science majors, as well as other students interested in the discussion.
“I think it was interesting having a music background helped to show the direct relation with the effect that it has on the mind,” sophomore Kimberly Huang said.
“I thought it was captivating,” first-year Jillian Nichols said. “I am a musician having knowledge in playing the organ, oboe and piano, and I hope to incorporate music into OT sessions, so I think that the talk was enlightening.”
“I love to listen to music all the time, and it really helps me to destress,” sophomore Melanie Blevins said.
What Behrens wanted students to take away from the discussion was the influence of music on the brain and its potential to help people make changes.
“For those who plan to enter health care, I would want them to learn that music can be a means for neurological change and to include a neurological perspective to how they view and interpret clients’ responses,” Behrens said.
“As a music therapist, I use music as a means to interact with clients to elicit changes in safe and trusting experiences that also are inherently motivating and pleasurable,” Behrens said. “Music, we now know, elicits brain changes which has further enhanced our ability to specifically use the components of music to help clients enhance their lives.”
