Singing News and Research

RSS

Songbirds may help researchers find cure for Huntington’s disease

Many neurological disorders can rob someone of the ability to speak clearly, causing them to stutter, mispronounce words, and struggle to put together coherent sentences. However, the molecular and neurological dysfunctions that cause these symptoms aren't well understood. Recent work at The Rockefeller University may give researchers a new tool to better study these vocal and speech impairments, particularly in Huntington's disease.

6 Oct 2015

Innovative mouse study could lead to advances in understanding autism

They don't use gondolas or croon like Sinatra. But scientists have known for a long time that male mice belt out something like love songs to females when the time seems right to them.

14 Sep 2015

New study reveals how communication patterns sustain relationships between couples affected by AD

When a spouse is cognitively impaired, marital communication is impaired. As Alzheimer's disease (AD) progresses, language problems increase in frequency - such as searching for the right word, repeating the same word, asking the same question over and over, or substituting one word for another.

14 Jul 2015

Fraser Communications wins another 3-year contract for First 5 California campaigns

Fraser Communications, which has designed award-winning campaigns the past six years for First 5 California, won another 3-year contract with the government organization to promote child brain development, early literacy, healthy nutrition, and other critical information for parents of young children.

29 Jun 2015

Key lifestyle changes could help reduce risk of cognitive decline

The evidence is mounting: People can reduce their risk of cognitive decline by making key lifestyle changes. That is the conclusion of a new research summary published online today in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

1 Jun 2015

Beckman researchers analyze vocal movement using new super-fast MRI technique

In order to sing or speak, around one hundred different muscles in our chest, neck, jaw, tongue, and lips must work together to produce sound. Beckman researchers investigate how all these mechanisms effortlessly work together--and how they change over time.

22 Apr 2015

Groundbreaking study looks at how puberty affects voice changes in male singers

The first round of tests have been completed for members of the Cincinnati Boychoir who are part of a joint study with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to look at the changing voices of male singers.

17 Apr 2015

Study explores outcomes of thyroid surgery in professional singers

A diagnosis of thyroid cancer can be devastating to professional singers, because surgical removal of the thyroid commonly causes voice changes. Massachusetts Eye and Ear surgeons developed a neural monitoring system to be used intraoperatively to improve outcomes.

25 Mar 2015

Study: Listening to classical music improves activity of genes involved in brain functions

Although listening to music is common in all societies, the biological determinants of listening to music are largely unknown. According to a latest study, listening to classical music enhanced the activity of genes involved in dopamine secretion and transport, synaptic neurotransmission, learning and memory, and down-regulated the genes mediating neurodegeneration.

13 Mar 2015

Revolutionising back pain treatments: an interview with Dr Kieran O’Sullivan

Back pain is exceptionally common. In fact, to not experience back pain at some point of your life would be thoroughly abnormal. Experiencing back pain is like becoming tired or becoming sad; we don’t necessarily like it, but it’s perfectly common.

14 Dec 2014

Funmodity creates new toothbrush accessory

Dental hygiene has been a long practice of humans, stretching back to our ancient times, but that hasn't stop modern kids from disliking the daily routine. Many parents scramble new tricks in an effort to make the experience more attractive. Telling stories, buying musical toothbrushes, and singing songs are tactics parents use from their sleeves to spice up the process.

14 Dec 2014

Findings could help researchers understand mechanisms involved in ageing

A study from the University of Exeter has found that male flies die earlier than their female counterparts when forced to evolve with the pressures of mate competition and juvenile survival. The results could help researchers understand the mechanisms involved in ageing.

1 Dec 2014

Mother singing to her preterm infant while providing kangaroo care may see benefits in health

A mother who sings to her preterm infant while providing 'kangaroo care,' or holding with direct skin-to-skin contact, may see improvements in both her child's and her own health.

5 Aug 2014

New developmental music therapy class helps babies to reach their full potential

Lisa Gracey shares a puppet of an orange bear with 11-month-old son Duke, singing 'Old MacDonald had a farm,' encouraging him to be engaged in his music therapy class. He grabs at the soft material and bounces in excitement.

29 Jul 2014

Nursing student wins prestigious 2014 Patricia G. Archbold Predoctoral Scholar Award from NHCGNE

The National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE) has selected Darina Petrovsky for its prestigious 2014 Patricia G. Archbold Predoctoral Scholar Award.

9 May 2014

Sneeze and cough generate cloud of invisible gas that propels droplets of infectious material

Each sneeze, cough or burp generates a cloud of invisible gas that propels droplets of infectious material farther than originally thought, and smaller droplets actually travel farther than larger ones. A new study from MIT researchers published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics says this gas cloud extends the reach of droplets by 5 to 200 times.

16 Apr 2014

PDF funds $20,000 grant to support patient-centered research to speed treatments for Parkinson's

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation® (PDF®) is pleased to announce $20,000 in grant funding to support patient-centered research at four leading Parkinson's disease research institutions.

29 Mar 2014

Goal: Therapies for hearing loss and communications problems

Research scientist Christine Portfors will study how the brain chemical dopamine influences hearing with support from the National Institutes of Health. The work may ultimately lead to better therapies for people with hearing loss and communication problems.

27 Feb 2014

Music in health care can improve quality of life for older people

Using music and singing in health care can improve quality of life for older people by easing pain, anxiety and depression.

26 Feb 2014

Premature babies who receive interventional therapy plus mother's voice learn to eat efficiently

Premature babies who receive an interventional therapy combining their mother's voice and a pacifier-activated music player learn to eat more efficiently and have their feeding tubes removed sooner than other preemies, according to a Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt study published today in Pediatrics.

20 Feb 2014