Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40204940›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neurology2025

Structural and functional neuroplasticity in music and dance-based rehabilitation: a systematic review.

Valeria Blasi, Laura Rapisarda, Diego Michael Cacciatore, Edoardo Palumbo, Sonia Di Tella, Francesca Borgnis, Francesca Baglio

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Valeria BlasiIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy.
Laura RapisardaIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy.
Diego Michael CacciatoreIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy.
Edoardo PalumboIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy.
Sonia Di TellaDepartment of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.
Francesca BorgnisIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy. fborgnis@dongnocchi.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8237-6164
Francesca BaglioIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy.

Funding

Ministero della Salute PNRR-POC-2022-12376360
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMusic- and dance-based rehabilitation has gained prominence in promoting social engagement and improving motor, cognitive, and mood domains in individuals affected by different neurological disorders.

aimThis systematic review aims to synthesize existing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating neuroimaging-based structural and functional neuroplasticity following music- and dance-based interventions among people with neurological disorders.

methodsLiterature research was performed using PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS). A multidimensional approach was employed to assess the efficacy of music- and dance-based interventions, integrating neuroimaging and clinical assessments.

resultsOut of a total of 2247 papers reviewed, 20 RCTs met the inclusion criteria for this review, with a total of 718 subjects. Among them, 88% underwent a neuroimaging investigation to evaluate structural or functional neuroplasticity. Six studies involved dance-based interventions, while 14 examined music-based rehabilitation. These interventions targeted cognitive, motor, and mood impairments in people at risk of dementia or with neurological disorders including Huntington's Disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and disorder of consciousness. DISCUSSION: Overall, the selected studies demonstrated significant effects on behavioral and neuroimaging outcomes, showing structural and functional changes in critical areas for perception and memory in patients at risk of dementia, as well as in regions essential for language processing, emotional regulation, and motor control in patients with acute and chronic stroke. Nevertheless, several biases were identified, specifically related to neuroimaging biomarkers, such as a lack of baseline and between-group comparisons and a lack of prior registration of neuroimaging biomarkers investigated. The protocol of this review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42024574754.

Indexed as

Dance TherapyMusicMusic TherapyNervous System DiseasesNeurological RehabilitationNeuronal PlasticityHumansNeuroimagingDance therapyMagnetic resonance imagingMusic therapyNeurodegenerative diseasesNeuroimagingNeuronal plasticityRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID40204940
PMCPMC11982153

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.