Conserving a sense of self despite significantly impaired short-term memory through songwriting and formative events.

This case study examines the use of improvisation and therapeutic songwriting to support a patient, C.M., with severe short-term memory impairment and long-term memory interference following acquired brain injury due to metastatic brain tumors. Despite profound cognitive deficits, music therapy sessions focusing on singing, improvisation, and personalized songwriting enabled C.M. to access and consolidate new memories, express himself, and reinforce his sense of personal identity. The intervention facilitated novel learning beyond procedural memory, improved engagement, and created tangible musical artifacts that C.M. could revisit, suggesting that short-term memory impairment did not fully prevent new memory formation or self-expression. The study highlights music therapy’s potential role in neurorehabilitation but calls for further research to clarify its mechanisms and impact on identity continuity.