Interactive Metronome
Improve Neurotiming In The Brain
What Is Interactive Metronome Therapy?
Interactive Metronome (IM) is an evidence-based therapy assessment and interactive training tool that measures & improves neurotiming, or the synchronization of neural impulses within key brain networks for cognitive, communicative, sensory & motor performances. As the individual activates an interactive trigger in time with a steady auditory beat, IM technology provides real-time auditory and visual feedback for millisecond timing. Knowing whether he is hitting before, after, or exactly in sync with the beat to the millisecond allows the individual to make immediate, online corrections to improve timing & rhythm over the course of training.
Peer reviewed studies repeatedly confirm the importance of timing & rhythm for human performance.
The Interactive Metronome Can Help In These Areas:
- Attention & Executive Function
- Memory & Processing Speed
- Self-Regulation
- Reading Comprehension
- Motor Coordination
- Athletic Performance
- Mathematics
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Tourette's Syndrome
- Brain Damage
- And More!
Why Timing Is So Important
Did you know that the brain has an "internal clock" that works at different intervals: microseconds, milliseconds, seconds, minutes and hours? The timing in the brain (or what scientists call "temporal processing") is, among other things, responsible for discovering where a sound is coming from; like when a sound hits one ear microseconds before the other. To wake up and put the brain to sleep when we go to sleep, for focus and concentration, reading comprehension, memory, motor coordination, and several other human abilities.
The program was initially developed for musicians to improve their hearing, but is used today, among other things, by athletes who want optimal precision and timing, by children and adults who want to improve memory, concentration and coordination to name a few.
Timing is responsible for a person being able to walk without falling or speaking without stuttering. Timing is what allows us to focus, process language, keep our balance and have smooth gait, play a sport, and even read. Timing is responsible for the synchronous communication of our brain's network system that connects cognitive processes and physical movement. Therefore the ability to have accurate neuro-timing is one of the most critical factors in human performance.
What To Expect From This Type of Therapy
During each session, the computer produces a sound heard through headphones, which the child tries to hit with hand and foot exercises.
The child receives feedback through headphones that tells them how accurately they hit the sound. The feedback guides them and helps improve timing and the ability to plan actions. The difference between the response and the actual metronome sound is measured in milliseconds, and we can give an objective assessment.
Research has shown that the brain learns through repetition of precise activities. By keeping the beat, the brain is trained to plan and process information more efficiently.
A treatment plan is tailored to each individual child's needs. Some notice changes during the training program, while others experience effects a few weeks or months after the training has ended. It may take some time for the changes and communication that has been trained into the brain to take effect.
Interactive Metronome is not a cure for the aforementioned disorders, but it can improve the quality of life and the symptoms of the children.