It's true that the causes of music-brain oddities remain poorly understood. However, Sacks could have done more to draw out some of the implications of the careful observations that he and other neurologists have made and of the treatments that have been successful. For example, he might have noted that the many specific dissociations among people who read the book are likely to believe in the brain localization of all mental functions, this was a missed educational opportunity.
Another conclusion one could draw is that there seem to be no 'cures' for neurological problems involving music. A drug can alleviate a symptom in one patient and aggravate it in another, or can have both positive and negative effects in the same patient. Treatments mentioned seem to be almost exclusively anti-epileptic medications, which "damp down" the excitability of the brain in general; their effectiveness varies widely.
Finally, in many of the cases described here the patient with music-brain symptoms is reported to have 'normal' EEG results. Although Sacks recognises the existence of new technologies, among them far more sensitive ways to analyse brain waves than the standard neurological EEG test, he does not call for their use. In fact, although he exhibits the greatest compassion for patients, he conveys no sense of urgency about the pursuit of new avenues in the diagnosis and treatment of music-brain disorders. This absence echoes the book's preface, in which Sacks expresses fear that 'the simple art of observation may be lost' if we rely too much on new technologies. He does call for both approaches, though, and we can only hope that the neurological community will respond.
Questions
1. The dissociations between harmony and melody
2. The study of treating musical disorders
3. The EEG scans of Sacks's patients
4. Sacks believes testing based on new technologies