The Efficacy of Individualized Music Therapy in Patients With MCS: A Pilot Study on EEG.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effects of individual music therapy (IMT) on electroencephalography (EEG) cortical activation in patients with minimally conscious state (MCS).

DESIGN

This study was pilot randomized, single-blind, and blank-controlled trial.

SETTING

China Rehabilitation Research Center (CRRC), Beijing, China.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty-two MCS patients (diagnosed by Coma Recovery Scale-Revised [CRS-R]) were enrolled between March 2024 and July 2025; 43 completed the trial and were randomized.

INTERVENTION: The experimental group (n = 22) received 12-week individualized music therapy (30-min sessions, five times per week) delivered by a certified music therapist.

COMPARATOR: The control group (n = 21) received routine treatment and rehabilitation training without music intervention.

PRIMARY OUTCOME: The change in EEG spectral power (alpha band, 8-13 Hz) over right-hemisphere frontocentral regions from baseline (T1) to post-intervention (T2).

RESULTS

The IMT group showed significantly increased alpha power over the right lateral prefrontal cortex, precentral gyrus, and central sulcus at T2 compared T1 (p < 0.05; descriptive comparison), whereas no such change was observed in the control group. No adverse events occurred in either group.

CONCLUSION

IMT is feasible and safe in medically fragile MCS patients and may induce right-hemisphere cortical activation. These pilot findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger, adequately powered trials.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2500114153, MR-11-24-014167.