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HYPOTHESIS AND THEORY article

Front. Integr. Neurosci.
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnint.2024.1403876
This article is part of the Research Topic Autism: The Movement (Sensing) Perspective a Decade Later View all 17 articles

Rhythm and Music for Promoting Sensorimotor Organization in Autism: Broader Implications for Outcomes

Provisionally accepted
A. Blythe LaGasse A. Blythe LaGasse 1*Ga Eul Yoo Ga Eul Yoo 2Michelle W. Hardy Michelle W. Hardy 1
  • 1 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, United States
  • 2 Ewah Womens University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Emerging research suggests that music and rhythm-based interventions offer promising avenues for facilitating functional outcomes for autistic individuals. Evidence suggests that many individuals with ASD have music processing and production abilities similar to those of neurotypical peers. These individual strengths in music processing and production may be used within music therapy with a competence-based treatment approach. We provide an updated perspective of how music and rhythm-based interventions promote sensory and motor regulation, and how rhythm and music may then impact motor, social, and communicative skills. We discuss how music can engage and motivate individuals, and can be used intentionally to promote skill acquisition through both structured and flexible therapeutic applications. Overall, we illustrate the potential of music and rhythm as valuable tools in addressing skill development in individuals on the autism spectrum.

    Keywords: autism, Music Therapy, Rhythm, sensorimotor, Social Interactions Another technology used by researchers motor and sensory difficulties

    Received: 20 Mar 2024; Accepted: 05 Jun 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 LaGasse, Yoo and Hardy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: A. Blythe LaGasse, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.