Isabelle Peretz, in 2022. AMÉLIE PHILIBERT
With more than 40 years of experience, Isabelle Peretz has been a pioneer in the study of the relationship between the brain and music. Initially, the classical guitar enthusiast wanted to study both music and neurology, but she ultimately turned to experimental psychology. Following her father's advice, Peretz combined her two interests in research carried out for her master's and doctoral degrees. In 2005, she co-founded the International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research with her colleague Robert Zatorre at the Université de Montréal in Canada.
Le Monde spoke with this passionate researcher, who just released her book, Soigner avec la musique: Nouvelles des neurosciences ("Healing with Music: News from Neuroscience"), about this intriguing connection.
In your book, you discuss the well-known case of the Québécois singer Renée Claude, who had Alzheimer's disease and, from the very first notes of a song by Léo Ferré, began to sing. What happens in the brains of these patients?
Alzheimer's disease causes a degeneration of neurons, which affects the hippocampus, a brain structure essential for encoding new information into memory. The medial prefrontal cortex – which stores autobiographical memories – and the limbic system – the seat of emotions – are preserved for longer.
You have 82.11% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.