How can music be beneficial for those with neurodevelopmental disorders? Why can some people recognize music better than faces?
In his book I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, neuroscientist and musician Daniel J. Levitin explains that music is more than just a source of pleasure. He argues that music is a powerful medicine and therapy that can be backed by science.
Keep reading to take a look at the benefits of music therapy for autism spectrum disorder and William’s Syndrome.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Music
While music therapy shows promise for various medical conditions, some of its most fascinating applications, according to Levitin, involve neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly Williams syndrome (WS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Why is music therapy for autism beneficial? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often involves challenges with social communication and interaction. People with autism typically have restricted interests and may demonstrate repetitive behaviors, such as hand-flapping, rocking, or repeated phrases. They might also insist on sameness through strict routines or become intensely focused on specific topics or objects. Many people with autism struggle to recognize emotional cues in everyday situations, yet can show remarkable strengths in specific areas, including musical processing.
(Shortform note: While medical experts have historically approached ASD as a disorder requiring correction or treatment, the neurodiversity movement emphasizes that neurological differences, including those associated with autism, represent natural variations in human brain function rather than deficits that need to be “fixed.” By viewing autism through this lens, neurodiversity advocates challenge the pathologization of neurological differences and instead promote accommodation and appreciation of diverse neurological experiences. This shift in perspective calls for society to adapt to neurodivergent people rather than demanding that neurodivergent people conform to neurotypical standards.)
Music therapy works well for people with autism because it provides a safe, structured way to process emotions through patterns. Since many people with autism excel at pattern recognition, they can understand emotions in music more easily than in faces or voices. In this way, music acts as a kind of emotional translator. Studies show regular music therapy produces lasting benefits, including improved communication, emotional understanding, and social engagement.
(Shortform note: While some studies have shown benefits of music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), others have found no significant differences between music therapy and other interventions or treatment as usual. First, how autism manifests varies widely, making standardized approaches difficult. Different music therapy techniques produce different outcomes, and while some autistic people respond well to music, others find certain sounds overwhelming. These inconsistencies don’t mean music therapy is ineffective—rather, they suggest its benefits are highly individualized, highlighting the need for personalized approaches tailored to each person’s unique needs and preferences.)
Williams Syndrome
Williams Syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition affecting about 20-27 genes on chromosome 7. People with this syndrome typically have IQs ranging from 40 to 112, with an average of around 68, placing them in the mild intellectual disability range. Despite these cognitive challenges, they often show remarkable strengths, including enhanced musical abilities, unusually high sociability, and surprisingly strong language skills relative to their overall cognitive function.
(Shortform note: Scientists believe studying people with Williams syndrome can help us understand the genetic basis of musical ability. By examining the specific genes affected in Williams syndrome and how they relate to musicality, researchers can gain valuable insights into how our ability to process music is encoded in our DNA. For example, identifying which of the 20-27 affected genes correlate most strongly with musical ability could help us better understand the genetic factors that influence pitch perception, rhythm processing, and musical creativity in all people.)
Brain scans show that people with Williams syndrome process music differently than others. They show less activity in the hearing-related brain regions that are typically activated when people listen to music, but more activity in emotion-processing areas like the amygdala. Their brain activation patterns when listening to music are also more spread out across different brain structures than people with neurotypical brains.
(Shortform note: The widely distributed network of activation observed in people with WS during music processing could potentially impact their ability to better learn and remember information when it’s presented musically. A study found that individuals with WS who had participated in formal music lessons performed significantly better on a verbal memory task when sentences were sung rather than spoken. This suggests that musical presentation of information might enhance learning and memory in WS individuals. However, this effect was only observed in those who had formal musical training, indicating that the relationship between music processing and memory in WS is complex and may depend on individual experiences and skills.)
Levitin explains that music therapy works especially well for people with Williams syndrome because it builds on their natural musical strengths. For example, people with Williams syndrome who struggle with fine motor control can often play rhythm instruments with greater coordination when following musical cues, and participating in group singing activities helps them develop better turn-taking and social interaction skills.
(Shortform note: While evidence supports the efficacy of music therapy for people with WS, research indicates that many music therapists lack specific training and experience working with them, potentially limiting the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention and highlighting the need for targeted education and professional development to better serve people with WS.)
