THE ISCR MODEL IN MUSIC THERAPY: AN INTEGRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL REGULATION IN STRESS AND ANXIETY

Abstract

This study presents the Integrative Synchronization–Change–Regulation (ISCR) model as an integrative conceptual framework for understanding psychophysiological regulation in the context of music therapy. The model conceptualizes music therapy as a multilevel process that integrates neuroscientific, psychophysiological, and cognitive–affective mechanisms, framing regulation as a dynamic coordination between brain networks, the autonomic nervous system, and interoceptive processes. The theoretical foundation of the model is based on the integration of key approaches, including neurovisceral integration, polyvagal theory, and rhythmic entrainment, which are synthesized into a coherent and sequential regulatory framework. In this context, music therapy is positioned as a structured bottom-up intervention that operates through sensory activation and physiological synchronization, leading to affective and cognitive modulation and ultimately resulting in sustained psychophysiological regulation. The ISCR model is structured into four interrelated stages: Input, Synchronization, Change, and Regulation, which describe the transition from sensory stimulation to stable regulatory outcomes. This process emphasizes the role of synchronization as a central mechanism linking physiological and psychological processes and enabling the coordination of internal rhythms and external stimuli. As a conceptual contribution, the model shifts the focus from symptom reduction toward the expansion of regulatory capacity, defined as the ability to maintain adaptive stability under varying internal and external conditions. In addition, the study outlines a quasi-experimental framework that may serve as a basis for future empirical validation of the model.