Preservation of acquired music performance skills in three cases of neuropsychological impairment

Abstract: A longitudinal study is presented of three musically competent people suffering neuro-psychological impairment. The first case study compares preserved and impaired music skills with auditory memory and reading skills, in a patient who has suffered severe cerebro-vascular accident. The results of the study show evidence of improvement in short term memory for rhythm tests and music score reading, but no improvement for digit tests, and prose reading. The second case study explores music skills preserved and impaired in a chronically ill psychotic patient, and comparison is made with speech and language content and motor behaviour. Evidence is presented to show that the process involved in music improvisations is linked to the process of speech content and thought process. The third case study compares music skills (particularly memory function) with psychotic behaviour. Evidence is presented to show that thought processes are blocked and retarded. Music 'memory lapses' occur as a result of thought blocking or distractions, but mistakes are analysed and corrected without loss of the frame of reference. Recommendations are made for future studies of neuropsychologically impaired musicians, including the development of a normed test instrument for music skills based on assessed pre-morbid levels of musicality.

Keyword(s): Music-skills, musician, neuropsychological-impairment.

Zurück | Weiter