Musical hallucinosis: case reports and possible neurobiological models

doi:10.1111/j.1601-5215.2007.00255.x

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Wiley InterScience

Acta Neuropsychiatrica

Volume 20 Issue 2, Pages 91 - 95

Published Online: 19 Mar 2008

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Case report

Musical hallucinosis: case reports and possible neurobiological models

Ramon Mocellin ^1,2 , Mark Walterfang ^1,2 , Dennis Velakoulis ^1,2

¹ Neuropsychiatry Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and ²Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Correspondence to Ramon Mocellin, Level 2, John Cade Building,
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050 Australia.
Tel: +61 3 93428750;
Fax: +61 3 93428483;
E-mail: ramon.mocellin@nh.org.au

KEYWORDS

auditory • deafness • hallucinations • hallucinosis • musical

Mocellin R, Walterfang M, Velakoulis D. Musical hallucinosis: case reports and possible neurobiological models.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The perception of music without a stimulus, or musical hallucination, is reported in both organic and psychiatric disorders. It is most frequently described in the elderly with associated hearing loss and accompanied by some degree of insight. In this setting it is often referred to as 'musical hallucinosis'. The aim of the authors was to present examples of this syndrome and review the current understanding of its neurobiological basis.

Method: We describe three cases of persons experiencing musical hallucinosis in the context of hearing deficits with varying degrees of associated central nervous system abnormalities.

Results: Putative neurobiological mechanisms, in particular those involving de-afferentation of a complex auditory recognition system by complete or partial deafness, are discussed in the light of current information from the literature.

Conclusion: Musical hallucinosis can be experienced in those patients with hearing impairment and is phenomenologically distinct for hallucinations described in psychiatric disorders.

Received: 25 September 2007; Accepted: 17 March 2008;

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1601-5215.2007.00255.x About DOI