嗅覚は記憶と最も密接に関連する感覚かもしれないが、聴覚も同じ方向へ大きく飛躍した。
来週ニューヨークで初公開されるドキュメンタリー映画『アライブ・インサイド』は、介護施設で認知症やアルツハイマー病を患う高齢者と交流しようとするソーシャルワーカーの試みを追った作品だ。その効果を実感した彼は、神経科医のオリバー・サックスを招き、音楽が高齢者に与える影響を検証する実験に乗り出す。
上記の動画は、多くの人が発見するにつれて爆発的な人気を博しており、それも当然のことだ。音楽、特に幼少期に聴いた音楽との繋がりは、人々の強い感情を呼び起こし、一部の研究者は、音楽は人間にとって必要不可欠なものだとさえ示唆している。
シュメイ・アーツ・カウンシル・オブ・アメリカの諮問委員会のメンバーであるレイ・ミューラー氏は、Psychology Suite 101に対し、「研究によって、音楽に対する感情的な反応に関連する特定の精神活動領域が特定されています。音楽は人間の欲求であり、脳はその欲求を満たす機能を果たすことができるようです」と語った。
高齢者にとって、音楽はアルツハイマー病患者の記憶を呼び覚ますことから、運動中の転倒を減らすことまで、あらゆることに関連付けられてきた。
この動画は、高齢者が音楽とつながることを支援する団体「ミュージック＆メモリー」とも提携しており、同団体は寄付用の中古iPodの収集なども行っている。
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Arlen, you're a lovely example of the kind of "vibrational" nonsense that surrounds our culture today. Music is about emotion, the soul, not vibrations, not some mystical "energy" that "puts organs in tune".
Music is frankly MUCH too important to be subjected to this sort of shallow New Age silliness! BTW I named my son after Oliver Sacks. You'd do well to pay attention to his teachings.
I lead drum circles in nursing homes and day care centers. I have 20 small drums and each person drums which creates a vibration which goes in the ears and vibrates the water around the brain, the spinal column and every organ. One vibration creates another and help put organs into their proper tune. Listening to music is great but drumming gentle drum strokes and singing old songs...Alzheimer's always remember the songs...is even a more powerful healing.
I invite each to use their own voice...to hum, to tone and finally to laugh. That creates the highest energy of the day. With meditation, it can lower blood pressure, stress and put people to sleep.
It is surprising how music touches life. I really enjoy music when am sad there are some tpye and when am happy there is a type. Emotional music helps me get a little strength.
I don't enjoy classic and I become like the singer if the music interests me. May God help the man.
I worked at a nursing home for a year doing my postdoc hours. It was a home filled with a lot of dementia, depression and sadness. I started a music group. Each week, I would play music from the residents' era of growing up. At first, I only had one or two attendees. Soon, the room was full (and the staff was hanging out at the door)! The residents sang, shared memories and came alive. It was such a blessing to be a part of it all! Music really does touch a place inside that brings people alive!
What a wonderful story! Music is so powerful! I have experienced it in my own way when my mother, who is a stroke patient, called and sang happy birthday to me on my answering machine. Her voice was as strong and clear as ever, and I cherish that memory. I encourage everyone to use music as a way to reconnect, you never know what you can awaken in someone special!