Märith Bergström
Qualifictions
Music Therapist Cand. Phil 2001:KMH Stockholm, M.A 2005: MPC Stockholm
Current position
Music Therapist at the Swedish Rett Center in Östersund, Sweden and Ph.D. student at the Department of communication and psychology since 1 of April 2006.
Many years experience of music therapy and special music education with children and youth with special needs (psychiatric conditions, developmental disorders and autism), and specialized in Rett Syndrome.
Title of Ph.D. research study
A neurophysiological study of the effects of music and vibroacoustic stimulation on autonomic nervous system functions in persons with Rett Syndrome.
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Download svensk sammanfattning (Swedish summary)
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Supervisor
Prof. Dr. Tony Wigram, Aalborg University
Summary
The purpose of the study is to objectively verify the effect music and vibroacoustic stimulation has on the central control of the autonomic nervous system in girls with Rett Syndrome and to investigate if the preliminary observations from an earlier study are reproducible in the Rett population but in a different group. The study will also include a comparison group of children with a normal developmental pattern between 1-5 years. This will prove or disprove that the Rett brain respond normally to music and vibroacoustic stimulation but in an immature way.
The subject will be exposed to six different musical stimuli during a period of a little more than an hour while the subject were being examined and registered for brain stem control of the autonomic nervous system.
Research questions
1. What effects have the six stimuli on persons with Rett Syndrome?
2. What effects have the six stimuli on children 1-5 years with a normally developed brain stem?
3. Is it possible to observe any differences in responses between the two groups?
This is a quantitative study done in a laboratory like situation. The study provides information about the above questions from the starting point of a within subject study where the same person is used for both control and test.
The results of the autonomous measurements are seen together with observations made of any outside changes in facial expressions. I will also examine how accustomed to music and music therapy the subjects are.
Latest “one-page summery” (April 2009)
Title of the presentation:
How to interpret data – A first attempt
This study is a quantitative neurophysiological study trying to explain how brainstem control functions might be affected when a person with Rett syndrome is exposed to different musical stimuli. It is also a question about if, and in that case how, it is possible to observe brainstem responses in the person’s facial expressions. Is it really possible to tell a person’s emotional condition or is it actually our own wishes we observe? If the person is more or less blank in the face, how do we interpret that?
Today all data is collected, I have my certificate as a FACS coder and also as an interpreter of micro expressions, the technical problems are now solved and the tool for analysing the music is ready to be used. I will in this presentation chare with you the very first attempt to interpret data from one subject and from two different musical stimuli. As a base I will explain neurophysiological parameters and illustrate what I look for and also try to formulate what that could mean.
References Bergström-Isacsson, M. (2007): Brainstem responses to music and vibroacoustic stimulation: an ongoing study.
www.soundeffects.wlu.ca
Bergström-Isacsson, M., Julu, O. O. P. & Witt Engerström, I (2007): Autonomic Responses to Music and Vibroacoustic Therapy in Rett Syndrome. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 16(1), pp.42-59.
Elefant, C. (2002): Enhancing communication in girls with Rett syndrome through songs in music therapy. Aalborg: Aalborg University.
Kerr, A. & Witt Engerström (2001): Rett Disorder and the Developing Brain. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Merker, Björn, Bergström-Isacsson, Märith & Witt Engerström, Ingegerd (2001): Music and the Rett disorder: The Swedish Rett Center survey. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 10 (1), pp. 42-53.
Wigram, T. & Dileo, C. (1997): Music Vibration. Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books.
Witt Engerström I., Larsson G., Bergström-Isacsson M., Wesslund B., Qvarfordt I. & Jochym-Nygren M. (2005): Rett Syndrom - Hur kan det se ut och vad kan man göra? Svenskt Rett Center, Östersund.
Conference papers
2001: "Music and the Rett disorder: A music therapy interpretation". Paper presented at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Oxford, England.
2004: "The use of music". Paper presented at the RSE congress in Zagreb, Croatia.
2005: "The use of music therapy including vibroacoustic therapy". Paper presented at the French parent association congress in Anger, France.
2005: "Kan musik och VT påverkan mätas neurofysiologiskt?" Paper presented at the Swedish County Council Research conference in Luleå, Sweden.
2005: "Autonomic responses to music in Rett syndrome". Paper presented at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Brisbane, Australia.
2005: "Brainstem responses to music therapy". Paper presented at the EACD congress in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
2006: Autonomic responses to music in Rett syndrome". Paper presented at the Nordic Conference of Music Therapy in Stockholm, Sweden.
2006: "Brainstem responses to music and vibroacoustic therapy in Rett Syndrome. Paper presented at the RSE congress in Gdansk, Poland.
2006: "Why music and music therapy?". Workshop presented at RSE congress in Gdansk, Poland.
2007: "Hjärnstammens respons på musik och vibrationer". Paper presented at the RSIS congress in Stockholm, Sweden.
2007: "Musik i praktik". Paper presented at the RSIS congress Stockholm, Sweden.
2008: “The value of music in everyday life working with Rett syndrome”. Paper presented at the World Rett syndrome Congress in Paris, France.
2008: “ The Musement: Music/Motor Function”. Paper presented at the World Rett syndrome Congress in Paris, France.
2008: “Musikkterapi og Rett syndrome – Hva vet vi og vordan kan man tolke det vi ser hos jenter/kvinner med Rett syndrom?”. Paper presented at Fageseminar in Oslo, Norway.
2008: “Ljud, rytmik och musik” . Paper presented att MIUN, University, Östersund, Sweden
Last update 2009-03-29
