The Science of Singing
Supported By Research A growing body of research shows singing has a wide-range of health benefits including mood elevation and pain reduction. Singing provides a full-brain, bi-hemispheric workout for increased brain plasticity which can positively regulate cortisol, dopamine, and endorphins. Learn more about the science behind SingFit below.
The Effects of Music Therapy on Cognition, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease | 2018| 64(4), 1347-1358. Lyu, J., Zhang, J., Mu, H., Li, W., Champ, M., Xiong, Q., . . . Li, M.
Singing is effective for improving speech (i.e., verbal fluency) and enhancing cognitive functioning and mental well being. Singing is effective for enhancing memory and language abilities in persons with mild Alzheimer’s Dementia. And, in persons with moderate-advanced dementia, singing reduced caregiver distress along with psychiatric symptoms.
Evaluation of Communication Behavior in Persons with Dementia During Caregivers’ Singing
Nursing Reports | 2011 | 1(1) Engström, G., Marmstål, L., Williams, C., & Götell, E.
Persons with advanced dementia who received singing during morning care showed improvements in verbal communication (responds to questions and provides relevant communication) on the Verbal and Nonverbal Interaction Scale (VNVIS) as well as showed improvements in calm-relaxed behavior.
The Impact of Caregivers’ Singing on Expressions of Emotion and Resistance During Morning Care Situations in Persons with Dementia: an Intervention in Dementia Care.
Journal of Clinical Nursing | 2011| 20(7-8) 969-978. Hammar, L. M., Emami, A., Götell, E., & Engström, G
Caregiver singing during morning caregiving can decrease resistant behaviors, improve alertness, and increase positive emotion in persons with advanced dementia.
Music Therapy Using Singing Training Improves Psychomotor Speed in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Neuropsychological and fMRI Study.
Journal: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra | 2015 | 5(3), pp 296–308. Satoh, M., Yuba, T., Tabei, K., Okubo, Y., Kida, H., Sakuma, H., & Tomimoto, H.
Data shows that singing can produce beneficial changes in PWD in cognition, psychological condition, and behavioral states as noted by improvements on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and prolongation of patient’s sleep time. The right angular gyrus and left lingual gyrus also showed increased activity on fMRI data during participants’ singing.
New Technology for Studying the Impact of Regular Singing and Song Learning on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Feasibility Study
TUFTS UNIVERSITY | 2017 | Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, 27(2), 132-144. | Reid, A. G., Rakhilin, M., Patel, A. D., Urry, H. L., & Thomas, A. K.
SingFit is a valid tool that makes the research process much easier and less expensive than traditional music training studies and fits into a larger literature examining how singing can influence well being across the life span.
Singing as an Intervention for Dementia Provides More Benefits Than Music Listening
THE GUARDIAN | Published Nov 11, 2013 | Study appears in the Journal of American Geriatric Society 63(4):815-6.
A four-month study at George Mason University shows that while passive music listening provides some therapeutic benefits for people with dementia, active singing produces better results in terms of improvements in memory, cognition, and mood.
Music Interventions for Preoperative Anxiety
COCHRANE ANAESTHESIA GROUP | 2013 | Cochrane review, by The Cochrane Collaboration in The Cochrane Library, Issue 6
The review included 26 trials with a total of 2051 participants and concludes that music interventions may provide a viable alternative to sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs for reducing preoperative anxiety.
The Therapeutic Effects of Singing in Neurological Disorders
JOURNAL: MUSIC PERCEPTION | 2010 | Vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 287-295. Wan, C.Y., Ruber, T., Hohmann, A., Schlaug, G.
Evaluates existing research on the use of active music making (i.e., singing) as a therapeutic mechanism to ameliorate language deficits and overall brain functionality and plasticity in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Aphasia and Autism.
Apollo’s Gift: New Aspects of Neurologic Music Therapy
PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH | February 2011 | Altenmuller, E. & Schlaug, G. (2015).
Reviews plastic changes in the brain in response to music listening and music making activities and the potential of using music to support and facilitate neurorehabilitation.
Music as an Aid for Postoperative Recovery in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
THE LANCET | August 2015 | The Lancet 386(10004) DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60169-6
This most comprehensive review of the evidence so far involves almost 7000 patients and finds that listening to music before, during, or after a surgical procedure can significantly reduce pain and anxiety, and decrease the need for pain medication.
