{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T06:02:35Z","timestamp":1785391355699,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785369600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>With the proliferation of digital technologies, research on virtual reality-assisted music therapy (VR-assisted MT) has expanded across clinical, rehabilitation, and wellness contexts. This scoping review aimed to map the current applications and characteristics of VR-assisted MT, defined as interventions in which music or music therapy is intentionally integrated as a therapeutic component rather than used solely as incidental headset audio.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The review followed the scoping review framework proposed by Arksey and O\u2019Malley, was further informed by updated JBI guidance, and was reported in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data. The search strategy included both abbreviated and unabbreviated terms for virtual reality and music therapy. English- and Chinese-language records published between 1 January 2015 and 30 November 2025 were considered. Formal critical appraisal was not undertaken because the objective was to map the breadth and characteristics of the field; however, study design, intervention reporting, and ethical reporting were considered during eligibility screening and data extraction.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The searches identified 107 records, of which 16 studies were included in the descriptive synthesis. Eleven full-text reports were excluded because they did not report ethics approval or informed consent procedures. The included studies addressed psychological therapy, neurological and motor rehabilitation, pain and symptom management, cognitive rehabilitation, and intervention feasibility or user experience. The available evidence suggested potential benefits for emotional regulation, engagement, pain relief, cognitive function, and motor rehabilitation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>VR-assisted MT represents an emerging interdisciplinary field with applications across several therapeutic and rehabilitative contexts. However, the evidence remains preliminary because of small sample sizes, substantial heterogeneity in populations and interventions, incomplete reporting of music therapy protocols, and limited follow-up. Future studies should adopt more rigorous designs and provide clearer reporting of VR characteristics, musical components, therapist involvement, ethical procedures, intervention fidelity, adverse events, and longer-term outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1814734","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T05:40:40Z","timestamp":1785390040000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Current trends and applications of virtual reality-assisted music therapy: a scoping review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Zhenting","family":"Lu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Industry Polytechnic College","place":["Nanchang, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Siyu","family":"Long","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jiangxi Industry Polytechnic College","place":["Nanchang, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","first-page":"261","author":"Adjorlu","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1080\/1364557032000119616","article-title":"Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework","volume":"8","author":"Arksey","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int. J. Soc. Res. Methodol."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.1089\/pmr.2024.0022","article-title":"Patient outcomes of a VR-based MT pilot in palliative care","volume":"5","author":"Brungardt","year":"2024","journal-title":"Palliat. Medi. Rep"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"736","DOI":"10.1089\/jpm.2020.0403","article-title":"VR-based MT in palliative care: a pilot implementation trial","volume":"24","author":"Brungardt","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Palliat. Med."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.4236\/jbise.2020.138018","article-title":"EEG analysis of the contribution of MT and VR to the improvement of cognition in Alzheimer\u2019s disease","volume":"13","author":"Byrns","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.3390\/bs14090793","article-title":"Scoping review on the use of music for emotion regulation","volume":"14","author":"Chong","year":"2024","journal-title":"Behav. Sci. (Basel)"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101872","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aip.2021.101872","article-title":"Development of a music therapy micro-intervention for stress reduction","volume":"77","author":"de Witte","year":"2022","journal-title":"Arts Psychother."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112617","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbr.2020.112617","article-title":"Non-pharmacological interventions for the anxiety in patients with dementia. A cross-over randomised controlled trial","volume":"390","author":"Dimitriou","year":"2020","journal-title":"Behav. Brain Res."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1016\/j.annemergmed.2025.04.032","article-title":"Analgesic and anxiolytic effects of VR and classical MT on tension-type headache: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"87","author":"D\u00f6nmez","year":"2025","journal-title":"Ann. Emerg. Med."},{"key":"ref10","volume-title":"Clinical Efficacy Observation of VR Technology Intervention for Chronic Insomnia with liver qi Stagnation Syndrome based on the Five Elements Theory (\u57fa\u4e8e\u4e94\u884c\u5b66\u8bf4\u7684\u865a\u62df\u73b0\u5b9eVR\u6280\u672f\u5e72\u9884\u6162\u6027\u5931\u7720\u809d\u90c1\u8bc1\u7684\u4e34\u5e8a\u7597\u6548\u89c2\u5bdf)","author":"Fang","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1608416","DOI":"10.3389\/frvir.2025.1608416","article-title":"Acceptability and effects on mental health of a music-based virtual reality intervention in geriatric outpatients: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial","volume":"6","author":"Galery","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. Virtual Real."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"419","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjorl.2019.01.008","article-title":"The effects of MT in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty surgery under general anesthesia","volume":"86","author":"G\u00f6k\u00e7ek","year":"2020","journal-title":"Braz. J. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1242","DOI":"10.3390\/app12031242","article-title":"From patient to musician: a multi-sensory VR rehabilitation tool for spatial neglect","volume":"12","author":"Heyse","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appl. Sci."},{"key":"ref14","volume-title":"The Effect of Calming Music in a VR Environment on Preoperative Anxiety in Ophthalmic Patients (VR\u773c\u955c\u4e2d\u9547\u5b9a\u578b\u97f3\u4e50\u5bf9\u773c\u75c5\u60a3\u8005\u5728\u672f\u524d\u7126\u8651\u4e2d\u7684\u5f71\u54cd)","author":"Huang","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100277","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prdoa.2024.100277","article-title":"Coupling neurologic MT with immersive VR to improve executive functions in individuals with Parkinson\u2019s disease: a quasi-randomized clinical trial","volume":"11","author":"Impellizzeri","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin. Parkinsonism Relat. Disord."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.47513\/mmd.v15i3.906","article-title":"Effects of receptive MT combined with VR on prevalent symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: a study protocol","volume":"15","author":"Iturri","year":"2023","journal-title":"Music Med."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"178","DOI":"10.1093\/jmt\/40.3.178","article-title":"A descriptive analysis of internet information regarding MT","volume":"40","author":"Johnson","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of MT"},{"key":"ref18","first-page":"678","author":"Kim","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1080\/08098131.2024.2445824","article-title":"Stimulating neuroplasticity: therapeutic applications of an extended digital musical instrument","volume":"34","author":"Partesotti","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nord. J. Music. Ther."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2119","DOI":"10.11124\/JBIES-20-00167","article-title":"Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews","volume":"18","author":"Peters","year":"2020","journal-title":"JBI Evidence Synthesis"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctim.2018.02.008","article-title":"Reporting quality of music intervention research in healthcare: a systematic review","volume":"38","author":"Robb","year":"2018","journal-title":"Complement. Ther. Med."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.47513\/mmd.v12i2.742","article-title":"Environmental music therapy (EMT): music\u2019s contribution to changing hospital atmospheres and perceptions of environments","volume":"12","author":"Rossetti","year":"2020","journal-title":"Music Med."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1038\/s41398-018-0287-3","article-title":"Music improves social communication and auditory-motor connectivity in children with autism","volume":"8","author":"Sharda","year":"2018","journal-title":"Transl. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1177\/1357633X19828463","article-title":"Development and feasibility testing of an online VR platform for delivering therapeutic group singing interventions for people living with spinal cord injury","volume":"26","author":"Tamplin","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Telemed. Telecare"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102289","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aip.2025.102289","article-title":"Therapeutic factors and mechanisms of change in MT for people with late-life depression: a scoping review","author":"van Essen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Arts Psychother."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1002-0152.2024.03.002","article-title":"A study on the intervention of Orff MT for long-term hospitalised patients with schizophrenia","volume":"50","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Chin. J. Neuropsychiatry"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1741463","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1741463","article-title":"The application of AI-assisted music therapy tools in mental health interventions","volume":"17","author":"Wei","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"202","DOI":"10.1186\/s12984-025-01740-7","article-title":"Analgesic effects and neural oscillatory mechanisms of music-synchronized virtual reality intervention","volume":"22","author":"Yang","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Neuroeng. Rehabil."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1008-9993.2020.11.020","article-title":"The effect of VR technology combined with music intervention on pain levels, heart rate, and blood pressure during wound dressing changes in burn patients","volume":"37","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. PLA Nurs."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1814734\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T05:40:43Z","timestamp":1785390043000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1814734\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]]},"references-count":29,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1814734"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1814734","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]]},"article-number":"1814734"}}