Music Cognition in Breast Cancer Survivors
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
January 2011
Publication Title
Music and Medicine
First Page
258
Last Page
263
Abstract
Advances in breast cancer treatment have resulted in improved survival rates and concomitant reports of chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction. Music cognition, a form of general cognition, also may be negatively affected by chemotherapy. Moreover, chemotherapy may have general ototoxic effects. The goal of this study was to explore whether breast cancer survivors (BCS) had similar hearing thresholds and music cognition abilities compared with age-matched healthy controls (HC). A total of 56 women (28 BCS and 28 HC) completed the audiometric tests and the Montreal Battery Evaluation of Amusia (MBEA). Results indicate the 2 groups have similar hearing thresholds. A comparison of music cognition variables suggests possible differences in some music cognition tasks, with HC scoring slightly, but not significantly, better in melodic perception. The BCS scored slightly better, though not significantly, on melodic memory. An adequately powered study including cognitive variables is needed for verification of findings and to establish clinical meaningfulness.
Recommended Citation
Burns, D., Bergeson, T. R., Perkins, S., Schneider, B., McDonald, B. C., Saykin, A. J., Unverzagt, F. W., & Champion, V. L. (2011). Music cognition in breast cancer survivors. Music and Medicine, 3, 258-263.
