Table 1.
Brief overview on the techniques of NMT under each of the cognitive domain targeted for intervention.
| Domain of cognitive function | Technique | A brief description |
|---|---|---|
| Attention and perception training | Musical sensory orientation training (MSOT) | This technique targets sensory stimulation, arousal orientation, vigilance, and sustained attention using live or recorded music. This may also involve engaging the patient in simple musical exercises to target sustained attention |
| Musical neglect training (MNT); auditory perception training (APT) | This technique includes both active musical exercises and passive listening. The active exercises chiefly are structured in spatial configurations to enable training of visual attention in the neglected area. The exercises are specifically structured in time, tempo, and rhythm to enable patients to focus repeatedly on the neglected visual field | |
| Musical attention control training (MACT) | This technique includes both active musical exercises and listening tasks. Musical stimuli are both composed of material and exercises that demand improvisation. Musical elements are organized to trigger different musical responses by engaging focused, sustained, selective, or divided attention | |
| Memory | Musical mnemonics training (MMT) | This technique targets memory encoding and retrieval functions. Includes musical exercises of recalling sounds or lyrics such as songs, rhymes, or chants |
| Associate mood and memory training (AMMT) | This technique focuses on three aspects – to facilitate memory recall by inducing mood-congruent state; to facilitate memory recall by accessing associated mood and memory network via music; to enhance memory formation by inducing positive emotional state | |
| Executive functions | Musical executive function training (MEFT) | This technique is administered in either individual or group sessions. Includes exercises of musical composition and improvisation targeting executive functions such as working memory, problem solving, reasoning, decision-making, etc. |
| Psychosocial skills | Psychosocial behavior training; music psychotherapy counseling (MPC) | This technique includes guided music listening, musical role playing, and exercises of composing and improvising music. The exercises are used to target mood regulation, emotional expression, cognitive coherence, and reality orientation. The goal is to improve the functions in order to facilitate social interaction and overall psychosocial functioning |