The MCT
A new music-based
cognitive screening test
To measure cognitive benefits of music therapy and music-rehabilitation activities
Established
reliabilty and validity
Quick to administer and easy to use
Suitable for older adults with severe decline
Why use the Music Cognitive Test (MCT)?
Music therapy and structured music interventions are increasingly used in neurorehabilitation and ageing research to support people living with cognitive and neuropsychiatric changes, and to promote cognitive resilience in older adults.
However, most cognitive assessments used in clinical and rehabilitation settings (e.g., the MMSE and MoCA) are designed to screen general cognitive functions (such as orientation, attention, and memory), rather than to capture the more specific cognitive effects associated with music-based training or music therapy. Some tools may also miss subtle changes in the earliest stages of cognitive decline, while others can be too demanding for people in more advanced stages, resulting in floor effects. Overall, this can make it harder to identify individual cognitive strengths and weaknesses and to monitor meaningful change over time.
To address these gaps, we developed the MCT, a standardised, music-based cognitive screening test designed to:
Quickly easily screen and monitor general cognitive functioning within music-based rehabilitation and intervention settings
Support music therapists in assessing cognition independently and fine-tuning treatment goals and session design
Provide a shared framework and language to improve communication across therapists and services
Help communicate outcomes clearly to families and care staff by consistently documenting music-related cognitive responses