Music and Rhythm as Promising Tools to Assess and Improve Cognitive Development in Children: A Scoping Review

Cost-effective methods are needed to monitor and support cognitive development in children at risk of deficits. The aim of this review was to explore the diagnostic and therapeutic use of music and rhythm for cognition in children, either typically developing or with acquired brain injuries.

A systematic literature search was performed on 2 September 2024, using PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO. We included studies involving music and rhythm-based interventions aimed at assessing or improving cognitive functions in children with typical development or acquired brain injuries.

We included 27 studies: 26 on typically developing children and one on children with acquired brain injuries. The cognitive domains addressed included executive functioning (16 studies), attention (nine studies), intelligence and learning (seven studies), sensory processing (five studies), mathematical skills (three studies) and self-regulation (two studies). In total, 23 studies reported a positive effect of music and rhythm on at least one cognitive domain, most commonly executive functioning, attention and intelligence. For children with acquired brain injuries, one study reported improved attention.

Music and rhythm-based interventions show promise to assess and improve cognitive development in typically developing children. Further research is required to determine their value in children with acquired brain injuries.