Therapeutic Benefits of Music-Based Synchronous Finger Tapping In Parkinson’s Disease – an fNIRS Study Protocol for Randomized Controlled Trial in Dalian, China

Abstract Background: Music therapy improves neuronal activity and connectivity of healthy persons and patients with clinical symptoms of neurological diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Major Depression. Despite the plethora of publications that have reported the positive effects of music interventions, little is known about how music improves neuronal activity and connectivity in afflicted patients.Methods: For patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD), we propose a daily 25-minute music-based synchronous finger tapping (SFT) intervention for 8-weeks. Eligible participants with PD are split into two groups: an intervention group and a control arm. In addition…