Greg F. was a man that was part of the hippie movement after separating from his family. An incredibly large brain tumor had grown and completely destroyed his frontal lobe and other parts of the brain, especially those responsible for memory. In addition, he had also become blind and unable to engage in conversation or function properly. His parents visited the hospital to see their son that had been absent for so many years, and were greatly disheartened by what they had seen. He had very seldom response to any form of therapy, making him what the doctors thought was a hopeless case. It wasn’t until Oliver Sack’s performed a case study on this patient where the power of music was discovered. The therapy Greg truly needed, was the Grateful Dead.

Being completely unresponsive to any form of communication, and only having memories of earlier stages in life, doctors turned to one last resort. Greg, being part of the hippie movement, was a passionate Grateful Dead fan. It had been reported from studies that music can help the brain to recollect certain memories in patients similar to Greg, while also giving them the ability to become more functional. According to Sacks’ study, Greg became alive and full of enthusiasm whenever they would play his favorite Grateful Dead songs. He became more responsive and was able to carry on small conversation. He became more of the person his parents remembered him as. The music also allowed Greg to remember memories that were connected/associated with the songs in someway. Oliver Sacks decided to give Greg the experience of a lifetime. He brought him to a concert of his favorite band, The Grateful Dead. The next morning, Greg had absolutely no recollection of the event, due to his inability to form new memories. However, when Sacks played him Grateful Dead songs that morning, he was able to recall certain moments. This is a clear observational study, however it holds strong evidence that music really does aid the brains of patients with impaired brain functions. This study was perfectly adapted into a heartfelt hollywood movie called “The Music Never Stopped.”

In “The Music Never Stopped,” which I saw a few months ago, the main character Gabriel is an exact model of Greg. Gabriel was part of the hippie movement and lived on the streets away form his parents. He formed a tumor just like Greg that made him unable to form new memories, also leaving him unable to hold a conversation or do everyday things. His father, a war veteran, was very against Gabriel’s rebellious nature and his favorite band “The Grateful Dead.” As he begins to notice the impact it has on his son’s brains functions, he begins to become accepting of Gabriel’s hippie culture. As the movie progresses, not only did the music help Gabriel when it was being played to him, but he began to show improved brain functions when he was on his own. He was still unable to form memories, but became a much more functional individual. Perhaps it was just brain plasticity, but it makes me think that if music can actually repair the brain long-term, which isn’t noted in Sacks’ study.

In conclusion, I’m definitely a believer in the theory that music can help heal the brain and encourage further practice of this revolutionary therapeutic method.

Sources:

http://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/Fulltext/2011/05050/Movie_Review__Anterograde_Amnesia_and_a_Family.15.aspx

http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2009/04/anthropologist-on-mars-by-oliver-sacks.html