6. Role of music on infant developments

Abstract

Sound plays a crucial role in the development and evolution of nature, where animals protect their species from the other animals via alarming sounds and learn to identify their species. In human beings, the linguistic development takes place after the infant is 2 years old, before which soothing music forms a part of their early arrival in this world. It helps calm them and put them to sleep. This depicts the close connection of infants with music. We explore how the neural development of the brain and the healthy growth of the body are improved by a piece of music played in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Analyzing previous studies on voice lullabies played to infants on the NICU, we found a greater average weight gain of 79 g over a 3 day time period for the preterm infants subjected to music and a 62 g weight gain of infants without music. We also observe that the total stay in the NICU of the preterm infants reduced by 5 days, who were subjected to music when compared with the preterm infants not subjected to music. Conducting the study on 40 adults, the blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were measured, which stabilizes with the onset of music.We observe studies compiling all the studies over the decades ofmusic therapy incorporated in the NICUs, showing significantly the positive effects of music therapy. Furthermore, we discern that the dopamine-based mechanism present in our brain is crucial in the early development years of the infant, and in case of not receiving enough love, care, and attention from the mother or the family, the child develops the neurobehavioral disorder, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Music plays its role in activating the same dopamine-based learning behavior while listening to music, thereby allowing the child to be treated for such diseases. Furthermore, the neuroplasticity of the brain is improved. We also construct an Upper Confidence Bound Reinforcement Learning algorithm to model the dopamine-based reward system in our brain, through which we observe that simpler the note repetition structure, smaller the learning curve of the song. All these aspects form a scientific base in using music for the cure of medical illnesses related to the brain, and behavior in the form of music therapy.