Does a Live Performance Impact Synchronization to Musical Rhythm in Cognitively Impaired Elderly?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ghilain, Matthieu^{a; 1} | Hobeika, Lise^{a; b; 1} | Lesaffre, Micheline^c | Schiaratura, Loris^a | Singh, Ashmita^d | Six, Joren^c | Huvent-Grelle, Dominique^e | Puisieux, François^e | Samson, Séverine^{a; f; *}

Affiliations: [a] Université de Lille, ULR 4072 – PSITEC – Psychologie: Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition, Lille, France | [b] Sciences et Technologies de la Musique et du Son, IRCAM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France | [c] IPEM, Department of Arts, Music and Theater Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | [d] Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada | [e] Hôpital Gériatrique les Bateliers, Pôle de Gérontologie, CHU Lille, Lille, France | [f] AP-HP, GHU Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Paris, France

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Séverine Samson, Equipe Neuropsychologie et Audition, Laboratoire PSITEC URL 4072, UFR de Psychologie Université de Lille, Pont de Bois BP 60149, F-59 653 Villeneuve d’Ascq Cedex, France. Tel.: +33 3 20 41 64 43; E-mail: severine.samson@univ-lille.fr.

Note: [1] These authors contribute equally to this work.

Abstract: Background:Music-based interventions appear to be efficient approaches to improve emotional, social, and cognitive functioning of patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Objective:Because benefits seem to increase with patient’s motor involvement, we studied sensorimotor synchronization (SMS) abilities of patients with cognitive impairments (Alzheimer’s disease, vascular and mixed dementia) and of patients with no evidence of cognitive impairments. More specifically, we compared the impact of a live performance by a musician to a video recording on SMS. Methods:SMS to a metronomic or a musical stimulus was assessed while patients watched a live musician or his pre-recorded video. Results:SMS to a metronome was better than to music but this effect was modulated by the social context. While SMS to a metronome was better when facing a video than a live performance, there was no impact of social context on SMS to music. No group differences of SMS were found. Conclusion:The decrease in SMS to a metronome in a live performance may be due to social pressure. Such a pressure might be removed in pleasant social activities, like moving with music in a group, explaining the lack of effect on SMS to music. We found no performance differences in groups, suggesting relatively spared SMS in cognitively impaired patients. By showing that it is possible to encourage patients to synchronize with others, even when facing a video, our results indicate that SMS can be used as a relevant predictor in clinical trials and open up promising therapeutic options for isolated patients.

Keywords: Aging, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive impairment, dementia, motor activity, music therapy, social interaction

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-200521

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 939-949, 2020