Table 3.
Studies Assessing the Impact of Response-contingent Music.
| Studies and Countries of Origin | Patients | Stimulation Conditions | Assessment Protocol | Measures Recorded | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancioni et al. (2010), Italy [64] |
One VS patient. Age: 41 years |
10- to 15-s segments of Preferred music which could be occasionally interspersed with familiar voices |
The music segments were presented contingent on lip-movement responses during the intervention (B) phases of an ABAB design |
Behavioral (lip movement) responses | The frequency of lip- movement responses during the B phases (when music followed each response) showed a large (statistically significant) increase |
| Lancioni et al. (2010), Italy [66] |
Two MCS patients. Age: 53 and 56 years |
10- to 15-s segments of preferred music |
The music segments were presented contingent on finger and upward eyelid movements for the two participants, respectively, according to a multiple probe across responses design |
Behavioral (finger and eyelid) responses |
The frequency of the responses followed by preferred music showed a large and statistically significant increase |
| Lancioni et al. (2011), Italy [65] |
Two VS patients. Age: 54 and 62 years |
10-s segments of preferred music or uninterrupted music stimulation |
The music segments were presented contingent on prolonged eyelid closures during the intervention (B) phases of extended ABAB designs. Control phases with music stimulation presented throughout the sessions were also used |
Behavioral (eyelid) responses |
The frequency of eyelid responses increased largely/significantly during the B phases as compared to the A (non-stimulation phases) and was higher than the frequency observed during the control phases |
| Lancioni et al. (2011), Italy [67] |
Three MCS patients. Age: 67–77 years |
10- to 15-s segments of preferred music |
The music segments were presented contingent on prolonged eyelid closures or finger movements during the B phases of an ABAB design |
Behavioral (eyelid and finger) responses |
The frequency of the eyelid and finger responses increased largely/significantly during the B phases |
| Lancioni et al. 2012), Italy [43] | Two MCS patients. Age: 59 and 60 years |
15-s segments of preferred music | The music segments were presented contingent on prolonged or repeated eyelid closures according to a multiple baseline design across participants |
Behavioral (eyelid) responses | The frequency of the eyelid responses increased largely/significantly during the intervention with music stimulation |
| Lancioni et al. (2012), Italy [68] |
One MCS patient. Age: 53 years |
8-s segments of preferred music | The music segments were presented contingent on finger movements during the B phases of an ABAB design |
Behavioral (finger) responses |
The frequency of the finger responses increased largely/significantly during the B phases |
| Lancioni et al. (2012), Italy [69] |
Four MCS patients. Age: 37–78 years |
10- to 15-s segments of preferred music, which could be occasionally interspersed with familiar voices for two of the participants |
The music segments were presented contingent on prolonged eyelid closures, finger movements, or big toe movements according to an ABAB design |
Behavioral (eyelid, finger, and big toe) responses | The frequency of the patients’ responses followed by music increased largely/significantly during the B phases |
| Keller & Garbacenkaite (2015), Germany [34] | Three UWS patients. Age: 48–72 years |
Preferred music | Preferred music was presented contingent on the theta/beta ratio level dropping below a certain threshold | Brain activity (EEG) and behavioral responses | Two of the patients showed a decrease in their theta/beta ratio and theta amplitudes and also some behavioral improvement as measured by the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised |
| Karpin et al. (2020), Israel [70] |
Three MCS patients. Age: 20–66 years |
30-s segments of preferred music |
The music segments were delivered on the patients’ performance of small (e.g., eye closure) responses |
Brain activity (EEG) and behavioral responses | Reports indicated that the patients were successful in acquiring the responses and maintaining adequate brain engagement |
Abbreviations: VS = Vegetative State; UWS = Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome; MCS = Minimally Conscious State; EEG = Electroencephalograph.