Music-based care to support brain growth and behavior in very preterm babies
The Impact of Music Medicine on Preterm Brain Development and Behavior
['FUNDING_R01'] · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · NIH-11193790
Music-based care in the NICU to support brain growth and later behavior in very preterm infants.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11193790 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If your baby was born very early and is in the NICU, this project will add tailored music-based care during the critical third-trimester developmental period when the brain is rapidly growing. Researchers will provide enriched sound and music experiences in the NICU and follow babies over time with brain imaging and developmental check-ups to look for lasting changes. The team plans long-term follow-up after hospital discharge to measure developmental and behavioral outcomes. The study also aims to learn why any changes happen so future NICU care can be improved.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are very preterm infants cared for in the NICU (third-trimester developmental stage) whose families agree to music-based interventions and follow-up visits.
Not a fit: Full-term infants, children without a history of preterm birth, or infants too medically unstable for additional interventions are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve early brain development and reduce long-term learning, social, and behavioral problems in children born very preterm.
How similar studies have performed: Small prior studies of music-based interventions in hospitalized infants have shown promising short-term effects but have been limited by small samples, observational designs, and little long-term or mechanistic evidence.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ERDEI, CARMINA — BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: ERDEI, CARMINA
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.