Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 May 31.
doi: 10.1111/apa.70151. Online ahead of print.

Music and Rhythm as Promising Tools to Assess and Improve Cognitive Development in Children: A Scoping Review

J G J Visee  1 , J Dudink  1 , A L van Baar  2 , A Volk  3 , M L Tataranno  1 , C E J Parmentier  1
Affiliations
Review

Music and Rhythm as Promising Tools to Assess and Improve Cognitive Development in Children: A Scoping Review

J G J Visee et al. Acta Paediatr. .

Abstract

Aim: Cost-effective methods are needed to monitor and support cognitive development in children at risk of deficits. The aim of this review was to explore the diagnostic and therapeutic use of music and rhythm for cognition in children, either typically developing or with acquired brain injuries.

Method: A systematic literature search was performed on 2 September 2024, using PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO. We included studies involving music and rhythm-based interventions aimed at assessing or improving cognitive functions in children with typical development or acquired brain injuries.

Results: We included 27 studies: 26 on typically developing children and one on children with acquired brain injuries. The cognitive domains addressed included executive functioning (16 studies), attention (nine studies), intelligence and learning (seven studies), sensory processing (five studies), mathematical skills (three studies) and self-regulation (two studies). In total, 23 studies reported a positive effect of music and rhythm on at least one cognitive domain, most commonly executive functioning, attention and intelligence. For children with acquired brain injuries, one study reported improved attention.

Conclusion: Music and rhythm-based interventions show promise to assess and improve cognitive development in typically developing children. Further research is required to determine their value in children with acquired brain injuries.

Keywords: acquired brain injury; cognitive functioning; music; rhythm; typical development.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. D. Fancourt and S. Finn, What Is the Evidence on the Role of the Arts in Improving Health and Well‐Being? A Scoping Review (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2019).
    1. C. Morimoto, E. Hida, K. Shima, and H. Okamura, “Temporal Processing Instability With Millisecond Accuracy Is a Cardinal Feature of Sensorimotor Impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Analysis Using the Synchronized Finger‐Tapping Task,” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 48, no. 2 (2018): 351–360.
    1. S. H. Baum, R. A. Stevenson, and M. T. Wallace, “Behavioral, Perceptual, and Neural Alterations in Sensory and Multisensory Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Progress in Neurobiology 134 (2015): 140–160.
    1. B. H. Repp and Y. H. Su, “Sensorimotor Synchronization: A Review of Recent Research (2006‐2012),” Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 20, no. 3 (2013): 403–452.
    1. G. Bharathi, K. Jayaramayya, V. Balasubramanian, and B. Vellingiri, “The Potential Role of Rhythmic Entrainment and Music Therapy Intervention for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation 15, no. 2 (2019): 180–186.

LinkOut - more resources