The New Frontiers in Music Therapy: Enhancing Neural Connectivity and Sensory Regulation for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
A literature review exploring the implementation of music therapy among individuals with ASD.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2109Keywords:
ASD, autism, music therapy, ABA, RAS, NMT, neural plasticity, sensory processing, neuroscienceAbstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficiencies in social interaction and communication, language, and sensory processing. Although traditional management therapies such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and pharmacological interventions target more visible, specific symptoms, they often struggle to adequately address the sensory and neural dysfunctions underlying ASD. Music therapy has thus emerged as one of the most promising alternative treatments due to the brain's natural receptivity to sound and rhythm. This article reviews new music therapy methodologies, including Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS), Improvisational Music Therapy (IMT), Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT), and Auditory Integration Training (AIT). It looks at the neurophysiology that underlies these techniques, demonstrating how music promotes adolescent neural plasticity, enhances interhemispheric communication, and affects sensory processing. The article further evaluates the limitations of existing interventions for autism and notes how music therapy, in particular, addresses these gaps. By synthesizing recent findings, this research-based article argues for the integration of music therapy into comprehensive treatment plans for individuals with ASD.
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