2021-04-13 04:05:53 GMT2021-04-13 12:05:53(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Music matters, especially for patients with neurological diseases.
In an inpatient ward of the China Rehabilitation Research Center (CRRC), music therapist Zhang Xiaoying was playing and singing the Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower" to a 53-year-old neurological patient with impaired language function caused by cerebral hemorrhage.
After a while, the patient managed to hum a tune to the rhythm of the song, even though they failed to sing all of the lyrics.
"That's an amazing reaction," said Zhang. The rehabilitation for the patient moved on.
Patients with impaired brain function, such as aphasia, have conditioned language reflexes when hearing familiar music. Music is proven to be able to activate the movements of the brain, said Zhang. Problems in the language center of the left brain make patients lose their speaking ability, but they still can sing if the functions of the right brain are in good condition.