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Picazio S, Magnani B, Koch G, Oliveri M, Petrosini L. Frontal and cerebellar contributions to pitch and rhythm processing: a TMS study. Brain Struct Funct 2024:10.1007/s00429-024-02764-w. [PMID: 38403781 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02764-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Music represents a salient stimulus for the brain with two key features: pitch and rhythm. Few data are available on cognitive analysis of music listening in musically naïve healthy participants. Beyond auditory cortices, neuroimaging data showed the involvement of prefrontal cortex in pitch and of cerebellum in rhythm. The present study is aimed at investigating the role of prefrontal and cerebellar cortices in both pitch and rhythm processing. The performance of fifteen participants without musical expertise was investigated in a listening discrimination task. The task required to decide whether two eight-element melodic sequences were equal or different according to pitch or rhythm characteristics. Before the task, we applied a protocol of continuous theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation interfering with the activity of the left cerebellar hemisphere (lCb), right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), or vertex (Cz-control site), in a within cross-over design. Our results showed that participants were more accurate in pitch than rhythm tasks. Importantly, the reaction times were slower following rIFG or lCb stimulations in both tasks. Notably, frontal and cerebellar stimulations did not induce any motor effect in right and left hand. The present findings point to the role of the fronto-cerebellar network in music processing with a single mechanism for both pitch and rhythm patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbara Magnani
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Human Physiology Section, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Oliveri
- Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Neuroteam Life and Science, Palermo, Italy
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Mucignat-Caretta C, Soravia G. Positive or negative environmental modulations on human brain development: the morpho-functional outcomes of music training or stress. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1266766. [PMID: 38027483 PMCID: PMC10657192 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1266766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last couple of decades, the study of human living brain has benefitted of neuroimaging and non-invasive electrophysiological techniques, which are particularly valuable during development. A number of studies allowed to trace the usual stages leading from pregnancy to adult age, and relate them to functional and behavioral measurements. It was also possible to explore the effects of some interventions, behavioral or not, showing that the commonly followed pathway to adulthood may be steered by external interventions. These events may result in behavioral modifications but also in structural changes, in some cases limiting plasticity or extending/modifying critical periods. In this review, we outline the healthy human brain development in the absence of major issues or diseases. Then, the effects of negative (different stressors) and positive (music training) environmental stimuli on brain and behavioral development is depicted. Hence, it may be concluded that the typical development follows a course strictly dependent from environmental inputs, and that external intervention can be designed to positively counteract negative influences, particularly at young ages. We also focus on the social aspect of development, which starts in utero and continues after birth by building social relationships. This poses a great responsibility in handling children education and healthcare politics, pointing to social accountability for the responsible development of each child.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Soravia
- Department of Mother and Child Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Kim T, Chung M, Jeong E, Cho YS, Kwon OS, Kim SP. Cortical representation of musical pitch in event-related potentials. Biomed Eng Lett 2023; 13:441-454. [PMID: 37519879 PMCID: PMC10382469 DOI: 10.1007/s13534-023-00274-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural coding of auditory stimulus frequency is well-documented; however, the cortical signals and perceptual correlates of pitch have not yet been comprehensively investigated. This study examined the temporal patterns of event-related potentials (ERP) in response to single tones of pitch chroma, with an assumption that these patterns would be more prominent in musically-trained individuals than in non-musically-trained individuals. Participants with and without musical training (N = 20) were presented with seven notes on the C major scale (C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, and B4), and whole-brain activities were recorded. A linear regression analysis between the ERP amplitude and the seven notes showed that the ERP amplitude increased or decreased as the frequency of the pitch increased. Remarkably, these linear correlations were anti-symmetric between the hemispheres. Specifically, we found that ERP amplitudes of the left and right frontotemporal areas decreased and increased, respectively, as the pitch frequency increased. Although linear slopes were significant in both groups, the musically-trained group exhibited marginally steeper slope, and their ERP amplitudes were most discriminant for frequency of tone of pitch at earlier latency than in the non-musically-trained group (~ 460 ms vs ~ 630 ms after stimulus onset). Thus, the ERP amplitudes in frontotemporal areas varied according to the pitch frequency, with the musically-trained participants demonstrating a wider range of amplitudes and inter-hemispheric anti-symmetric patterns. Our findings may provide new insights on cortical processing of musical pitch, revealing anti-symmetric processing of musical pitch between hemispheres, which appears to be more pronounced in musically-trained people. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13534-023-00274-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taehyoung Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Miyoung Chung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunju Jeong
- Department of Music and Science for Clinical Practice, College of Interdisciplinary Industrial Studies, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yang Seok Cho
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Oh-Sang Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Phil Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
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Rus-Oswald OG, Benner J, Reinhardt J, Bürki C, Christiner M, Hofmann E, Schneider P, Stippich C, Kressig RW, Blatow M. Musicianship-Related Structural and Functional Cortical Features Are Preserved in Elderly Musicians. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:807971. [PMID: 35401149 PMCID: PMC8990841 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.807971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Professional musicians are a model population for exploring basic auditory function, sensorimotor and multisensory integration, and training-induced neuroplasticity. The brain of musicians exhibits distinct structural and functional cortical features; however, little is known about how these features evolve during aging. This multiparametric study aimed to examine the functional and structural neural correlates of lifelong musical practice in elderly professional musicians. Methods Sixteen young musicians, 16 elderly musicians (age >70), and 15 elderly non-musicians participated in the study. We assessed gray matter metrics at the whole-brain and region of interest (ROI) levels using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the Freesurfer automatic segmentation and reconstruction pipeline. We used BrainVoyager semiautomated segmentation to explore individual auditory cortex morphotypes. Furthermore, we evaluated functional blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activations in auditory and non-auditory regions by functional MRI (fMRI) with an attentive tone-listening task. Finally, we performed discriminant function analyses based on structural and functional ROIs. Results A general reduction of gray matter metrics distinguished the elderly from the young subjects at the whole-brain level, corresponding to widespread natural brain atrophy. Age- and musicianship-dependent structural correlations revealed group-specific differences in several clusters including superior, middle, and inferior frontal as well as perirolandic areas. In addition, the elderly musicians exhibited increased gyrification of auditory cortex like the young musicians. During fMRI, the elderly non-musicians activated predominantly auditory regions, whereas the elderly musicians co-activated a much broader network of auditory association areas, primary and secondary motor areas, and prefrontal and parietal regions like, albeit weaker, the young musicians. Also, group-specific age- and musicianship-dependent functional correlations were observed in the frontal and parietal regions. Moreover, discriminant function analysis could separate groups with high accuracy based on a set of specific structural and functional, mainly temporal and occipital, ROIs. Conclusion In conclusion, despite naturally occurring senescence, the elderly musicians maintained musicianship-specific structural and functional cortical features. The identified structural and functional brain regions, discriminating elderly musicians from non-musicians, might be of relevance for the aging musicians’ brain. To what extent lifelong musical activity may have a neuroprotective impact needs to be addressed further in larger longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oana G. Rus-Oswald
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- University Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Oana G. Rus-Oswald,
| | - Jan Benner
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Jan Benner,
| | - Julia Reinhardt
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Hospital of Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Céline Bürki
- University Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Christiner
- Centre for Systematic Musicology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Vitols Jazeps Latvian Academy of Music, Riga, Latvia
| | - Elke Hofmann
- Academy of Music, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Schneider
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre for Systematic Musicology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Vitols Jazeps Latvian Academy of Music, Riga, Latvia
| | - Christoph Stippich
- Department of Neuroradiology and Radiology, Kliniken Schmieder, Allensbach, Germany
| | - Reto W. Kressig
- University Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria Blatow
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Neurocenter, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Mai G, Howell P. Causal Relationship between the Right Auditory Cortex and Speech-Evoked Envelope-Following Response: Evidence from Combined Transcranial Stimulation and Electroencephalography. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:1437-1454. [PMID: 34424956 PMCID: PMC8971082 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Speech-evoked envelope-following response (EFR) reflects brain encoding of speech periodicity that serves as a biomarker for pitch and speech perception and various auditory and language disorders. Although EFR is thought to originate from the subcortex, recent research illustrated a right-hemispheric cortical contribution to EFR. However, it is unclear whether this contribution is causal. This study aimed to establish this causality by combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and measurement of EFR (pre- and post-tDCS) via scalp-recorded electroencephalography. We applied tDCS over the left and right auditory cortices in right-handed normal-hearing participants and examined whether altering cortical excitability via tDCS causes changes in EFR during monaural listening to speech syllables. We showed significant changes in EFR magnitude when tDCS was applied over the right auditory cortex compared with sham stimulation for the listening ear contralateral to the stimulation site. No such effect was found when tDCS was applied over the left auditory cortex. Crucially, we further observed a hemispheric laterality where aftereffect was significantly greater for tDCS applied over the right than the left auditory cortex in the contralateral ear condition. Our finding thus provides the first evidence that validates the causal relationship between the right auditory cortex and EFR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangting Mai
- Hearing Theme, National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG1 5DU, UK.,Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.,Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Peter Howell
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London WC1H 0AP, UK
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