Underlying dataset for the study: Singing and music making: Physiological responses across early to later stages of dementia

These files contain the underlying data for the study, Singing and Music Making: Physiological Responses Across Early to Later Stages of Dementia; physiological data from Study 1 and Study 2, and video recording engagement scores from Study 2. The project was funded by the Wellcome Trust as part of The Hub Award at the Wellcome Collection, London. The article that these data are based on can be here: https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/6-150/v1, Wellcome Open Research, 6:150.

The abstract from the accompanying article:

Background: Music based interventions have been found to improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia.  Research to date has primarily used psychometric questionnaires and qualitative interviews to determine impact and efficacy. More recently there has been an interest in exploring if psychophysiological measures could provide additional information about how music, singing and other arts activities impact this population. Physiological responses can provide additional evidence about an individual’s experience of an activity and may be particularly useful for people who are experiencing difficulties with communication. 

Methods: This multiple-case study design drew on previously collected, unanalysed archival data and explored the physiological responses of nine people with mild-to-moderate dementia during a singing group, and six people in the later stages of dementia during an interactive music group.  Medical grade Empatica E4 ™ wearable wristbands provided information on heart rate (HR), electrodermal activity (EDA), movement (ACC) and skin temperature (ST).  The interactive music group was video recorded using non-intrusive Fly 360-degree cameras™ in order to provide additional group interactive information about engagement.          

Results: Physiological responses were analysed using simulation modelling analysis (SMA) within individual case studies.  Participants in the singing group showed an increase in EDA and HR as the session began.  HR and ST increased during faster paced songs.  EDA, movement and engagement were all higher during an interactive music group than during a control session (music listening). EDA and ST increased and in contrast to the responses during singing, HR decreased as the sessions began. EDA was higher during slower music, however this was less consistent in the more interactive intervention sessions than the control. There were no consistent changes in HR and movement responses during different styles of music.   Physiological responses peaked during familiar music, interactions, physical touch in addition to times that participants appeared disengaged. 

Conclusion: Non-intrusive physiological measures obtained from easily worn wristband devices may provide valuable information about the experiences of people living with dementia who participate in arts and other activities, particularly for those in later stages when verbal communication may be more difficult and it is no longer possible to complete psychometric questionnaires. However, whenever feasible, they should be used in conjunction with other measures to develop a more nuanced understanding of these experiences.  Future research should consider using physiological measures with video-analysis and observational measures, where possible, to explore further how engagement in specific activities, wellbeing and physiology interact. This may provide valuable information for further development of activities and services for those living with dementias across different levels of impairment.