Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by repetitive behaviors, sensory processing difficulty, altered perspectives, and an overwhelmingly strong preference for habitual routines (Navarro et al. 2025). Many forms of therapeutic tools and experiences have been and continue to be developed for individuals with this disorder, but one of the notable ones is music-based interventions (MBIs). Emerging research suggests that MBIs offer a reliable way of facilitating functional outcomes for autistic individuals. Many individuals with ASD have music processing and production abilities similar to those of an individual without ASD (LaGasse et al. 2024). Because of this preserved musical processing capacity, MBIs can be used to develop and harness neurocognitive mechanisms that will promote improvement in sensory, communicative, and emotional areas.

First, MBI’s support neurocognitive mechanisms such as the sensorimotor system by using steady beats to help process sensory information and coordinate smooth, controlled physical movement. (Hutson et al. 2026) According to La Gasse and her colleagues, autistic individuals often experience issues with their sensorimotor system, which is a core neurocognitive mechanism that helps control physical movement. Some issues that come from a dysfunctional system are “impaired feedforward control,” “Increased motor noise or imprecise timing,” and sensorimotor anticipation difficulties.” Rhythmic stimuli such as music can help address these issues through neural entrainment, a process where brainwave patterns synchronize and connect with the rhythm of external music. This entrainment activates motor planning regions including “the premotor cortex, supplementary motor areas, presupplementary motor area, cerebellum, and basal ganglia”(LaGasse et al. 2026). MBI’s supports smooth physical movement and helps the brain feel less overwhelmed by large amounts of sensory information by providing a predictable beat.

Second, MBIs improve communication by stimulating neurofunctional networks. Another way to phrase this is that music-based activities “tap into shared neural pathways that are crucial for emotional processing and social engagement”(Navarro et al. 2025). According to Navarro and her colleagues, autistic individuals show greater activation in brain areas associated with music perception, such as the primary auditory cortex, as well as regions associated with emotional processing. Communicative-based musical activities such as playing the drums with another person or taking turns and waiting for a queue in music turns physical rhythm into a support for social skills. Moving or playing in sync with someone else activates parts of the brain that are responsible for both focus and social connections.(LaGasse et al. 2024) This helps individuals understand emotional tone and practice social interactions.

In conclusion, the therapeutic capabilities of MBIs rely on network-connected neurocognitive mechanisms. By activating motor planning regions through rhythmic entrainment in specific neural pathways and stimulating shared language-music areas in the brain, MBIs target underlying issues with neurocognitive mechanisms present in those with ASD. In doing so, MBIs help prevent overwhelming the brain and can support emotional grounding. Ultimately, these interventions can promote progress in sensory, communicative and emotional areas.