# A narrative review on the psychological mechanisms and efficacy of music interventions for improving symptoms of patients with ADHD

## TL;DR

This review explores how music interventions can help ADHD symptoms by affecting brain mechanisms and improving attention and emotions.

## Contribution

The paper systematically summarizes recent empirical evidence on music interventions for ADHD and their psychological mechanisms.

## Key findings

- Music interventions improve sustained attention and reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity in ADHD patients.
- Both active and passive music interventions modulate brain pathways related to dopamine and noradrenaline.
- Combined use with cognitive-behavioral therapy enhances the effectiveness of music interventions.

## Abstract

This study aimed to review the research progress on the use of music interventions for improving symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to clarify its potential mechanisms and clinical value.

Using the keywords “music interventions” and “ADHD,” we systematically surveyed empirical studies published in the past decade and summarized evidence from four domains: neuro-mechanisms, attention, impulse control, and emotion regulation.

Music interventions enhances sustained attention, reduces hyperactive and impulsive behaviors, and alleviates negative emotions such as anxiety and irritability by activating reward pathways, increasing inter-hemispheric brain synchrony, and modulating dopaminergic and noradrenergic function. Both active instrumental performance and passive music listening produce benefits, and combined use with cognitive-behavioral therapy can further improve efficacy.

As a safe, low-side-effect, and highly acceptable non-pharmacological approach, music interventions can effectively relieve core ADHD symptoms. Future studies should establish standardized and individualized protocols through large-sample randomized controlled trials to facilitate clinical translation.