Catalan Radio Show Explores Music's Power to Heal Catatonic Patients

Barcelona, Spain – A recent segment from the popular Catalan radio show, "Tot és comèdia," has sparked interest in the neurological effects of music therapy. The show featured director Ivan Benet and actress Mireia Aixalà discussing the work of Oliver Sacks, who observed that catatonic patients responded to familiar music. The discussion highlighted the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, as a potential factor in the patients' recovery. "What's fascinating is how Oliver Sacks observed these individuals, initially considered practically dead, and then discovered they weren't, they just couldn't express themselves or move," explained Benet. Aixalà added, "The music generated dopamine, because happiness generates dopamine. So, if they were given a dopamine boost..." The segment serves as a compelling illustration of music's therapeutic potential and the complex interplay between the brain, emotions, and sound.