# data[].attributes.headline
The impact of music story telling on West African memory

# data[].attributes.subject
The impact of music story telling on West African memory

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/9nqD8XWybpQ

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
On the Road with Bob Holman: The Griots of West Africa

# data[].attributes.body
To summarise.
One must include open ended questions, giving a general idea of the topic.
Stay quiet once the question has been asked to get the most information out of your respondent.
Then give them a somewhat summary for the final word.

# data[].attributes.body
Film music

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ennio Morricone - BBC Documentary (1995) - Part 1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Japanese Style Photography, the art of Moriyama Daido

# data[].attributes.body
I want to explore the importance of music and the brain.
To do so I will take photographs of subjects alongside something of musical significance which triggers a particular memory, this shall be accompanied by a short 90 second documentary which will focus further on this topic by filming reactions of people listening to an emotionally connected song and a group discussion. For the words segment I shall interview Dr Diana Omigie, neuroscientist, who specialises in music. To figure out why the brain is so effected by music.

# data[].attributes.headline
Testing out landscape photo's on the beach

# data[].attributes.subject
Testing out landscape photo's on the beach

# data[].attributes.headline
Experimenting with live music photography 

# data[].attributes.subject
Experimenting with live music photography 

# data[].attributes.body
In class we practiced with the camera's after learning how to set up the kit. We were taught about the importance of having a varation of shot types.

# data[].attributes.body
We were assigned a task out of class whilst hiring out the camera kits.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Music has a powerful effect on the brain. meboonstudio/ Shutterstock

You probably don't realise it when you're listening to your favourite song, but music has an incredibly powerful effect on the human brain. Singing, playing an instrument or listening to music have all been shown to activate numerous areas of the brain that control speech, movement and cognition, memory and emotion - often all at the same time. Remarkably, research also suggests that music can physically increase brain matter, which could help the brain repair itself.
You can listen to more articles from The Conversation, narrated by Noa, here.
More intriguing is the impact that music can have even in cases where the brain may not be functioning as it should. For example, studies show that for people with Alzheimer's, music can often spark a reaction, helping patients access memories that were previously lost. There's also evidence of patients who have suffered brain damage and lost the ability to speak that can still sing when music is played.

Given the powerful effect that music has on the brain, researchers are investigating whether it can be used to treat many different neurological conditions - such as stroke, Parkinson's disease or brain injury. One such treatment currently being investigated for use is neurologic music therapy.

Neurologic music therapy works a bit like physiotherapy or speech therapy, in that it aims to help patients manage symptoms and function better in their daily life. Therapy sessions use musical or rhythmical exercises to help patients regain functional skills. For example, patients relearning to walk after an accident or trauma might walk to the rhythm of music during a therapy session.

Talking, walking, thinking

So far, this type of therapy has shown promise in helping stroke survivors to recover language, improve walking and recover physical movement better than other standard therapies.

Researchers have also investigated whether neurologic music therapy can treat other movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Most studies in this area have used a technique called rhythmic entrainment exercises, which uses the brain's ability to synchronise with a beat unconsciously - such as having to walk to a specific speed of music or beat.

Compared to doing therapy without music, neurologic music therapy has been shown to improve walking and reduce moments of "freezing" (a temporary, involuntary inability to move) in Parkinson's patients.

Studies have also investigated whether this type of therapy can treat cognitive issues in people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or have Huntington's disease. For these types of conditions, neurologic music therapy focuses on activating and stimulating areas of the brain which may have been damaged - such as the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain responsible for planning, decision-making, problem solving and self control. This might involve the patient switching between playing two types of musical instruments when they hear a change in the music they're playing along to (such as the tempo becoming faster or slower).

One research study found that these types of activities improved concentration and attention for patients with traumatic brain injury. This in turn had a positive impact on their wellbeing, and lowered feelings of depression or anxiety.

Music and the brain

It's thought that the reason neurological music therapy works is because music can activate and simulate so many different parts of the brain simultaneously. For patients with neurological conditions, it's often the connections in the brain that are causing problems, rather than a specific area itself.

Research shows that music can uniquely form new connections in the brain. Listening to music also improves neuron repair better than other activities - such as listening to an audiobook - which may mean the brain functions better and builds new connections.

Read more: What is brain plasticity and why is it so important?

Music is believed to have long lasting effects on the brain, too. So much so that a musician's brain is actually better connected than people who haven't played music. This could be important for people with neurological conditions, as music could help to repair damaged connections over time.

This activation of multiple areas of the brain may be the reason why neurologic music therapy is more successful than other standard therapies alone. Given that many neurological conditions affect the connections in the brain, music's ability to activate multiple areas simultaneously may help bypass these problem connections and build new ones - allowing people to overcome certain symptoms, or better manage them.

Though more research still needs to be done before neurological music therapy is used widely across healthcare systems, early results from studies show how much promise this therapy could hold. Research is also underway to see whether it can be used to help people with age-related diseases, such as dementia or Alzheimer's.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why researchers are turning to music as a possible treatment for stroke, brain injuries and even Parkinson's

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You probably don't realise it when you're listening to your favourite song, but music has an incredibly powerful effect on the human brain. Singing, playing an instrument or listening to music have all been shown to activate numerous areas of the brain that control speech, movement and cognition, memory and emotion - often all at the same time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Power Of Music On The Brain | Dementia & Parkinson's

# data[].attributes.body
How did you enter this field of work?

Tell me about some of your studies on music and its relationship with the brain and what were the processes and outcomes?

Can the brain see improvements from listening to music? Enhancing mood, memory, aiding insomnia etc? If so how?

I heard you mention in another interview that if you are a more empathetic person, you feel more moved by certain music, can you elaborate on this?

Can music with lyrics evoke a more powerful reaction in the brain than an instrumental?

Do musicians have different brain types to non-musicians? Is there memory stronger because of the processes the brain goes through being able to play music?

What are your plans for the future?

# data[].attributes.body
When I was four years old my sister had a seizure, this really changed the life of my family. Having someone you love and that is your best friend be diagnosed with such a harsh condition changes the way you think and see things. Danielle  (my sister pictured above) is a huge music lover and maker. She has influenced my life incredibly. I have always been keen to learn more about brains due to her epilepsy. So I thought it would be apt to put the two together and learn about the relationship between music and the brain. I got in touch with the very intelligent Dr Diana Omigie who was willing to answer my questions.