1 School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y5, Canada.
2 Feil & Oberfeld Research Centre of the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital-CISSS Laval, A Research Site of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Laval, QC H7V 1R2, Canada.
3 Laboratory of Simulation and Movement Modelling, School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
4 Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur le Cerveau et l'Apprentissage, Montréal, QC H7N 0A5, Canada.
5 Graduate Program in Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada.
6 Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada.
7 Laboratory for Brain Music and Sound

Music-supported therapy (MST) follows the best practice principles of stroke rehabilitation and has been proven to instigate meaningful enhancements in motor recovery post-stroke. The existing literature has established that the efficacy and specificity of MST relies on the reinforcement of auditory-motor functional connectivity in related brain networks. However, to date, no study has attempted to evaluate the underlying cortical network nodes that are key to the efficacy of MST post-stroke. In this case series, we evaluated changes in connectivity within the auditory-motor network and changes in upper extremity function following a 3-week intensive piano training in two stroke survivors presenting different levels of motor impairment. Connectivity was assessed pre- and post-training in the a- and the ß-bands within the auditory-motor network using magnetoencephalography while participants were passively listening to a standardized melody. Changes in manual dexterity, grip strength, movement coordination, and use of the upper extremity were also documented in both stroke survivors. After training, an increase in the clinical measures was accompanied by enhancements in connectivity between the auditory and motor network nodes for both the a- and the ß-bands, especially in the affected hemisphere. These neurophysiological changes associated with the positive effects of post-stroke MST on motor outcomes delineate a path for a larger scale clinical trial.