Effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation on Gait in Patients with Functional Neurological Disorder

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is an increasingly prevalent medical condition in which there is a “software” issue resulting in abnormality in the functioning of the nervous system and can greatly impair a person’s quality of life with a wide range of motor, cognitive, and sensory symptoms. There is presently very limited research about FND, and no literature exploring the use of music to manage the symptoms. Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) is a technique that uses external rhythmic stimuli such as the beat of the metronome to facilitate intrinsically rhythmic movements such as walking, and has been shown to improve gait in a range of populations including Parkinson’s Disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Neurologic music therapists at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston have observed short-term immediate improvements in gait with RAS in patients with FND, however, further exploration is needed in order to understand and quantify how RAS can be an effective tool in the treatment of this population. In collaboration with therapist and researchers at Spaulding, I would like to explore whether the use of a RAS gait training program could have a significant impact on gait parameters such as cadence, velocity, stride length, and symmetry

Faculty Supervisor:

Corene Thaut

Student:

Partner:

Harvard University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: