Musical Training: Promoting Brain Function in Children Who Have Survived Brain Tumours
August 13, 2026 updated by: Dr Joyce Chung, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Efficacy of a Musical Training Programme in Promoting Neuroplasticity in Children Who Have Survived Brain Tumours: a Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aims to understand whether learning music can help improve brain function and quality of life in children who have recovered from brain tumours.
A total of 236 children will join the study.
Some of them will receive regular medical care, while others will take part in a music training program using the ukulele.
The music program will last for one year and includes both in-person group classes and online individual sessions.
The investigators will assess how well the children can think, remember, and focus before and after the training.
The investigators will also ask about their daily life and well-being.
This study hopes to show that music training can be a fun and helpful way to support recovery in childhood brain tumour survivors.
Study Overview
Status
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
This randomized controlled trial aims to determine the efficacy of musical training in promoting neuroplasticity and enhancing the quality of life in children who have survived brain tumours.
A total of 236 participants will be recruited from Hong Kong Children's Hospital and Children's Cancer Foundation centres.
Participants in the intervention group will receive 52 weeks of musical training, consisting of 36 face-to-face small group sessions and 16 online individual sessions, while the control group will receive usual care.
The ukulele, chosen for its light weight, simple chords, and cheerful sound, will be used as the training instrument due to its accessibility and appeal to children.
Neuroplasticity will be assessed using a battery of standardized instruments, including the Test of This study aims to explore whether musical training can help improve brain function and quality of life in children who have survived brain tumours.
A total of 236 children will be recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
The intervention group will receive 52 weeks of ukulele-based musical training, which includes 36 face-to-face group sessions held at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and 16 online individual sessions conducted at home.
The control group will receive usual care only.
The ukulele was chosen for its light weight, simple chords, and child-friendly sound, making it ideal for young learners.
To support families who may not be familiar with online tools, the investigators will provide user guides, video tutorials, and technical support.
The study will assess participants' brain function-including nonverbal intelligence, attention, memory, processing speed, and executive functioning-as well as their daily functioning and quality of life using standardized tests and questionnaires.
These assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention and at follow-up.
The investigators hope the results will show that musical training is a fun and effective way to support the neurological and emotional recovery of children after brain tumour treatment.
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
236
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Contact
- Name: Joyce Chung
- Phone Number: +852 27666322
- Email: okjoyce.chung@polyu.edu.hk
Study Locations
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Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong
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Contact:
- Vivian Yuen
- Phone Number: +852 35133193
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Participation Criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Child
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Completed cancer treatment at least 2 months previously,
- Aged 7-16 years,
- Able to speak Cantonese and read Chinese
- Have had no musical training since their cancer diagnosis
Exclusion Criteria:
- Have cancer recurrence or a second malignancy
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Other
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: None (Open Label)
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
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Other: The intervention group will receive 52 weeks of musical training, including face-to-face and online.
musical training
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52 weeks of musical training, consisting of (1) 36 weekly group based, face-to-face sessions, and (2) 16 weeks of weekly online individual sessions.
Each lasting 45 minutes to 1 hour.
|
|
No Intervention: Control
The control group will receive usual care for 52 weeks
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Nonverbal Intelligence Score as Measured by the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, Fourth Edition (TONI-4)
Time Frame: At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
The Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, Fourth Edition (TONI-4) is a language-free measure of nonverbal intelligence, abstract reasoning, and problem-solving.The Index score (mean = 100, SD = 15) will be reported.
Higher scores indicate better nonverbal intelligence.
|
At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
|
Digit Span Score (Forward + Backward)
Time Frame: At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
Digit Span (Digits Forward + Digits Backward) assesses attention and working memory.
The total score will be reported.
Higher scores indicate better attention and working memory performance.
|
At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
|
Memory Score as Measured by the Hong Kong List Learning Test, Second Edition (HKLLT-2)
Time Frame: At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
The Hong Kong List Learning Test, Second Edition (HKLLT-2) assesses verbal memory.
The total recall / delayed recall score will be reported.
Higher scores indicate better memory performance.
|
At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
|
Processing Speed / Executive Function as Measured by the Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT)
Time Frame: At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
The Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT) assesses sustained attention, sequencing, and executive function.
Trail 1 involves connecting numbers (1-15) in sequence, while Trail 2 adds alternating between two colours.
Processing speed is estimated from Trail 1 time, while the interference index (Trail 2 minus Trail 1) reflects executive functions, including inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility.
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At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
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Executive Function as Measured by the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2)
Time Frame: At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
The Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 is an assessment of executive function behaviours.
A Global Executive Composite (GEC) T-score (or specific index T-scores) will be given.
Higher T-scores mean more executive dysfunction.
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At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Quality of life scores of the child participants
Time Frame: At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
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Measured by The Chinese version of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)
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At baseline, 12 months immediately after the completion of the intervention, and 6 months after the completion of the intervention
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Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Study record dates
These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Estimated)
October 30, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
May 30, 2029
Study Completion (Estimated)
October 30, 2029
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
August 10, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 13, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
August 17, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
August 17, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 13, 2026
Last Verified
August 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- IRB-2025-673
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
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