Highlights
- •Tourette patients’ subjectively perceived effect of music on tics was examined.
- •The effects of musical activity on tic frequency was experimentally tested.
- •Listening to and playing music and musical imagery was found to reduce tics.
- •A short-term tic reducing effect was found after musical performance.
- •We conclude that music offers a therapeutic approach for patients to reduce tics.
Abstract
Background
Self-reports by musicians affected with Tourette’s syndrome and other sources of anecdotal
evidence suggest that tics stop when subjects are involved in musical activity. For
the first time, we studied this effect systematically using a questionnaire design
to investigate the subjectively assessed impact of musical activity on tic frequency
(study 1) and an experimental design to confirm these results (study 2).
Methods
A questionnaire was sent to 29 patients assessing whether listening to music and musical
performance would lead to a tic frequency reduction or increase. Then, a within-subject
repeated measures design was conducted with eight patients. Five experimental conditions
were tested: baseline, musical performance, short time period after musical performance,
listening to music and music imagery. Tics were counted based on videotapes.
Results
Analysis of the self-reports (study 1) yielded in a significant tic reduction both
by listening to music and musical performance. In study 2, musical performance, listening
to music and mental imagery of musical performance reduced tic frequency significantly.
We found the largest reduction in the condition of musical performance, when tics
almost completely stopped. Furthermore, we could find a short-term tic decreasing
effect after musical performance.
Conclusions
Self-report assessment revealed that active and passive participation in musical activity
can significantly reduce tic frequency. Experimental testing confirmed patients’ perception.
Active and passive participation in musical activity reduces tic frequency including
a short-term lasting tic decreasing effect. Fine motor control, focused attention
and goal directed behavior are believed to be relevant factors for this observation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 18, 2015
Accepted:
March 10,
2015
Received in revised form:
March 9,
2015
Received:
November 22,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
