Listening to music after suffering a stroke is a great idea because the act of listening probably helps the patient recover from brain damage.
Why music could be a tonic for stroke sufferers.
It is the first time such an effect has been shown in humans and scientists believe it could be a cheap, simple way to get stroke patients on the road to recovery.
Researcher Teppo Sarkamo of Helsinki University helped carry out the study.
He said newly diagnosed patients are often left on their own for large parts of the day, yet the first few months after a "brain attack" are ideal for rehabilitative training.
He said: "Our research shows for the first time that listening to music during this crucial period can enhance cognitive recovery and prevent negative mood, and it has the advantage that it is cheap and easy to organise.
"We suggest that everyday music listening during early stroke recovery offers a valuable addition to the patients' care."
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It could be helping more general mechanisms of "brain plasticity" - the brain's ability to repair after damage.