The Biomedical Theory of Music Therapy is based upon a biological model of musical
behavior. Its purpose is to provide a biomedical basis for interpreting receptive, expressive, and
physiological behaviors of the human organism during musical participation. Its basic premise
recognizes that there are specific neurophysiological structures and processes that must be
activated in order for certain behavioral responses to occur. Therefore, any occurrence of those
behaviors in response to musical stimuli must result from the effects of music on those same
neurophysiological structures and processes. Knowledge of those musical effects enables their
use in medical and other therapeutic applications.