@article {2024, title = {New advances and novel applications of music technologies for health, well-being, and inclusion Front. Comput. Sci. 6:1358454. doi: 10.3389/fcomp.2024.1358454}, journal = {Frontiers in Computer Science}, volume = {6:1358454}, year = {2024}, month = {01/2024}, keywords = {accessibility, Digital Musical Instruments, healthcare, multimodal interaction, music technology, Music Therapy, sound and music, wellbeing}, doi = {doi:10.3389/fcomp.2024.1358454}, author = {Emma Frid and Kjetil Falkenberg and Kat Agres and Alex Lucas} } @article {2023, title = {Intra- and inter-brain coupling and activity dynamics during improvisational music therapy with a person with dementia: an explorative EEG-hyperscanning single case study}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology: Cognitive Science}, volume = {14:1155732}, year = {2023}, month = {09/2023}, abstract = {Objective: Real-life research into the underlying neural dynamics of improvisational music therapy, used with various clinical populations, is largely lacking. This single case study explored within-session differences in musical features and in within- and between-brain coupling between a Person with Dementia (PwD) and a music therapist during a music therapy session. Methods: Dual-EEG from a music therapist and a PwD (male, 31 years) was recorded. Note density, pulse clarity and synchronicity were extracted from audio-visual data. Three music therapists identified moments of interest and no interest (MOI/MONI) in two drum improvisations. The Integrative Coupling Index, reflecting time-lagged neural synchronization, and musical features were compared between the MOI and MONI. Results: Between-brain coupling of 2 Hz activity was increased during the MOI, showing anteriority of the therapist{\textquoteright}s neural activity. Within-brain coupling for the PwD was stronger from frontal and central areas during the MOI, but within-brain coupling for the therapist was stronger during MONI. Differences in musical features indicated that both acted musically more similar to one another during the MOI. Conclusion: Within-session differences in neural synchronization and musical features highlight the dynamic nature of music therapy. Significance: The findings contribute to a better understanding of social and affective processes in the brain and (interactive) musical behaviors during specific moments in a real-life music therapy session. This may provide insights into the role of such moments for relational-therapeutic processes.}, keywords = {brain coupling, dementia, EEG, improv, Music Therapy}, doi = {doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1155732}, author = {Clemens Maidhof and Viktor M{\"u}ller and Olivier Lartillot and Kat Agres and Jodie Bloska and Rie Asano and Helen Odell-Miller and J{\"o}rg Fachner} } @article {2021, title = {Music, Computing, and Health: A roadmap for the current and future roles of music technology for health care and well-being}, journal = {Music \& Science}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The fields of music, health, and technology have seen significant interactions in recent years in developing music technology for health care and well-being. In an effort to strengthen the collaboration between the involved disciplines, the workshop {\textquoteleft}Music, Computing, and Health{\textquoteright} was held to discuss best practices and state-of-the-art at the intersection of these areas with researchers from music psychology and neuroscience, music therapy, music information retrieval, music technology, medical technology (medtech) and robotics. Following the discussions at the workshop, this paper provides an overview of the different methods of the involved disciplines and their potential contributions to developing music technology for health and well-being. Furthermore, the paper summarizes the state of the art in music technology that can be applied in various health scenarios and provides a perspective on challenges and opportunities for developing music technology that 1) supports person-centered care and evidence-based treatments, and 2) contributes to developing standardized, large-scale research on music-based interventions in an interdisciplinary manner. The paper provides a resource for those seeking to engage in interdisciplinary research using music-based computational methods to develop technology for health care, and aims to inspire future research directions by evaluating the state of the art with respect to the challenges facing each field.}, keywords = {Computing, Health, Music Information Retrieval, Music Psychology, Music Therapy, Roadmap, Technology}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1177/2059204321997709}, author = {Agres, Kat R and Schaefer, Rebecca and Volk, Anja and van Hooren, Susan and Holzapfel, Andre and DallaBella, Simone and Mùˆller, Meinard and de Witte, Martina and Herremans, Dorien and Ramirez-Melendez, Rafael and Neerincx, Mark and Ruiz, Sebastian and Meredith, David and Dimitriadis, Theo and Magee, Wendy} } @article {2021, title = {Music Therapy During COVID-19: Changes to the Practice, Use of Technology, and What to Carry Forward in the Future}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {12}, year = {2021}, month = {05/2021}, chapter = {1317}, abstract = {In recent years, the field of music therapy (MT) has increasingly embraced the use of technology for conducting therapy sessions and enhancing patient outcomes. Amidst a worldwide pandemic, we sought to examine whether this is now true to an even greater extent, as many music therapists have had to approach and conduct their work differently. The purpose of this survey study is to observe trends in how music therapists from different regions around the world have had to alter their practice, especially in relation to their use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, because of limited options to conduct in-person therapy due to social distancing measures. Further, the findings aim to clarify music therapists{\textquoteright} perspectives on the benefits and limitations of technology in MT, as well as online MT. In addition, this survey investigated what changes have been necessary to administer MT during COVID-19, in terms of virtual therapy and online tools, and how the changes made now may affect MT in the future. We also explored music therapists{\textquoteright} views on whether special technology-focused training might be helpful to support the practice of MT in the future. This is the first survey, to our knowledge, to break down opinions of and trends in technology use based on geographical region (North America, Europe, and Asia), and several noteworthy differences were apparent across regions. We hope our findings provide useful information, guidance, and a global reference point for music therapists on effectively continuing the practice of MT during times of crisis, and can encourage reflection and improvement in administering MT.}, keywords = {COVID-19 pandemic, music technology, Music Therapy, online tools, regional comparisons, regional practices, teletherapy}, doi = {DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647790}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647790}, author = {Agres, Kat R. and Foubert, Katrien and Sridhar, Siddarth} } @proceedings {2018, title = {Rhythmic Entrainment for Hand Rehabilitation Using the Leap Motion Controller}, year = {2018}, month = {09/2018}, address = {Paris, France.}, abstract = {Millions of individuals around the world suffer from motor impairment or disability, yet effective, engaging, and cost-effective therapeutic solutions are still lacking. In this work, we propose a game for hand rehabilitation that leverages the therapeutic aspects of music for motor rehabilitation, incorporates the power of gamification to improve adherence to medical treatment, and uses the versatility of devices such as the Leap Motion Controller to track users{\textquoteright} movements. The main characteristics of the game as well as future research directions are outlined.}, keywords = {Leap Motion, Motor Rehabilitation, music, Music Therapy, Rhythmic Entrainment}, author = {Beveridge, S. and Cano, E. and Agres, K.} }