LIGHTNING STRIKES - A CORRELATIONAL STUDY OF THE GESTURO-MUSICAL RESPONSES OF INPATIENTS WITH ACUTE MANIC OR DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY USING THE LIGHTNING MODULE

Research into gesturo-musical response is an innovative approach to di agnosis and treatment of mentally ill patients. This research utilizes a new class of musical instruments activated by patient movements. Th e LIGHTNING module, a specialized Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) controller, which translates gesture into music by creating in frared zones in a three-dimensional space was used in this study. The purpose of the study was to measure the gesturo-musical responses of 4 4 adult in-patients [22 manic subjects, 22 depressed subjects] using t he LIGHTNING protocol, a music therapy improvisational experience. Pat ient gestures were analyzed via computer using the LIGHTNING Display p rogram, which mapped composite images of patient improvisations on an x/y plane over a P-minute period. Results showed statistically signifi cant interdiagnostic correlations at the p < .01 level with regard to four dependent variables: file size, mean velocity, zone use, and zona l spikes.