Since the 1970s, studies have been conducted that explore the inherent capacity that music has to heal premature infants. Fifteen million premature infants are born annually around the globe each year and the extreme vulnerability of these infants necessitates the neonatal intensive care unit. However, the neonatal intensive care unit's environment  (although both life saving and necessary) is detrimental to many aspects of the ongoing development of these infants. The body of literature in this field has grown exponentially since its beginnings and it continues to grow. Please read more here: Music in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.