1
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Zuk J, Vanderauwera J, Turesky T, Yu X, Gaab N. Neurobiological predispositions for musicality: White matter in infancy predicts school-age music aptitude. Dev Sci 2023; 26:e13365. [PMID: 36571291 PMCID: PMC10291011 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Musical training has long been viewed as a model for experience-dependent brain plasticity. Reports of musical training-induced brain plasticity are largely based on cross-sectional studies comparing musicians to non-musicians, which cannot address whether musical training itself is sufficient to induce these neurobiological changes or whether pre-existing neuroarchitecture before training predisposes children to succeed in music. Here, in a longitudinal investigation of children from infancy to school age (n = 25), we find brain structure in infancy that predicts subsequent music aptitude skills at school-age. Building on prior evidence implicating white matter organization of the corticospinal tract as a neural predisposition for musical training in adults, here we find that structural organization of the right corticospinal tract in infancy is associated with school-age tonal and rhythmic musical aptitude skills. Moreover, within the corpus callosum, an inter-hemispheric white matter pathway traditionally linked with musical training, we find that structural organization of this pathway in infancy is associated with subsequent tonal music aptitude. Our findings suggest predispositions prior to the onset of musical training from as early as infancy may serve as a scaffold upon which ongoing musical experience can build. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Structural organization of the right corticospinal tract in infancy is associated with school-age musical aptitude skills. Longitudinal associations between the right corticospinal tract in infancy and school-age rhythmic music aptitude skills remain significant even when controlling for language ability. Findings support the notion of predispositions for success in music, and suggest that musical predispositions likely build upon a neural structural scaffold established in infancy. Findings support the working hypothesis that a dynamic interaction between predisposition and experience established in infancy shape the trajectory of long-term musical development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ted Turesky
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge MA 02139 USA
| | - Xi Yu
- Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge MA 02139 USA
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2
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Papatzikis E, Agapaki M, Selvan RN, Pandey V, Zeba F. Quality standards and recommendations for research in music and neuroplasticity. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1520:20-33. [PMID: 36478395 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Research on how music influences brain plasticity has gained momentum in recent years. Considering, however, the nonuniform methodological standards implemented, the findings end up being nonreplicable and less generalizable. To address the need for a standardized baseline of research quality, we gathered all the studies in the music and neuroplasticity field in 2019 and appraised their methodological rigor systematically and critically. The aim was to provide a preliminary and, at the minimum, acceptable quality threshold-and, ipso facto, suggested recommendations-whereupon further discussion and development may take place. Quality appraisal was performed on 89 articles by three independent raters, following a standardized scoring system. The raters' scoring was cross-referenced following an inter-rater reliability measure, and further studied by performing multiple ratings comparisons and matrix analyses. The results for methodological quality were at a quite good level (quantitative articles: mean = 0.737, SD = 0.084; qualitative articles: mean = 0.677, SD = 0.144), following a moderate but statistically significant level of agreement between the raters (W = 0.44, χ2 = 117.249, p = 0.020). We conclude that the standards for implementation and reporting are of high quality; however, certain improvements are needed to reach the stringent levels presumed for such an influential interdisciplinary scientific field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthymios Papatzikis
- Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria Agapaki
- Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rosari Naveena Selvan
- Institute for Physics 3 - Biophysics and Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Fathima Zeba
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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3
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Wolff L, Quan Y, Perry G, Forde Thompson W. Music Engagement as a Source of Cognitive Reserve. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2023; 38:15333175231214833. [PMID: 37993973 PMCID: PMC10666690 DOI: 10.1177/15333175231214833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Music engagement is a ubiquitous activity that is thought to have cognitive benefits for the rapidly aging population. In the absence of robust treatment approaches for many age-related and neuropathological health issues, interest has emerged surrounding lifestyle-enriching activities, like exercise and music engagement, to build cognitive reserve across the lifespan and preserve neurocognitive function in older adults. The present review evaluates evidence of neurocognitive preservation arising from lifelong music engagement with respect to the cognitive reserve hypothesis. We collated a body of neuroimaging, behavioral and epidemiological evidence to adjudicate the benefits of music engagement for cognitive reserve. The findings suggest that music engagement should be considered in tandem with other well-established cognitive reserve proxies as a contributor to differential clinical outcomes in older populations at risk of age-related and neuropathological cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Wolff
- Department of Psychology, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - Yixue Quan
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gemma Perry
- Department of Psychology, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - William Forde Thompson
- Department of Psychology, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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4
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Li KP, Zhang ZQ, Zhou ZL, Su JQ, Wu XH, Shi BH, Xu JG. Effect of music-based movement therapy on the freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled trial. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:924784. [PMID: 36337701 PMCID: PMC9627030 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.924784] [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: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Progression of freezing of gait (FOG), a common pathological gait in Parkinson’s disease (PD), has been shown to be an important risk factor for falls, loss of independent living ability, and reduced quality of life. However, previous evidence indicated poor efficacy of medicine and surgery in treating FOG in patients with PD. Music-based movement therapy (MMT), which entails listening to music while exercising, has been proposed as a treatment to improve patients’ motor function, emotions, and physiological activity. In recent years, MMT has been widely used to treat movement disorders in neurological diseases with promising results. Results from our earlier pilot study revealed that MMT could relieve FOG and improve the quality of life for patients with PD. Objective To explore the effect of MMT on FOG in patients with PD. Materials and methods This was a prospective, evaluator-blinded, randomized controlled study. A total of 81 participants were randomly divided into music-based movement therapy group (MMT, n = 27), exercise therapy group (ET, n = 27), and control group (n = 27). Participants in the MMT group were treated with MMT five times (1 h at a time) every week for 4 weeks. Subjects in the ET group were intervened in the same way as the MMT group, but without music. Routine rehabilitation treatment was performed on participants in all groups. The primary outcome was the change of FOG in patients with PD. Secondary evaluation indicators included FOG-Questionnaire (FOG-Q) and the comprehensive motor function. Results After 4 weeks of intervention, the double support time, the cadence, the max flexion of knee in stance, the max hip extension, the flexion moment of knee in stance, the comprehensive motor function (UPDRS Part III gait-related items total score, arising from chair, freezing of gait, postural stability, posture, MDS-UPDRS Part II gait-related items total score, getting out of bed/a car/deep chair, walking and balance, freezing), and the FOG-Q in the MMT group were lower than that in the control group and ET group (p < 0.05). The gait velocity, the max ankle dorsiflexion in stance, ankle range of motion (ROM) during push-off, ankle ROM over gait cycle, the knee ROM over gait cycle, and the max extensor moment in stance (ankle, knee) in the MMT group were higher than that in the control group and ET group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was reported between the control group and ET group (p > 0.05). The stride length and hip ROM over gait cycle in the MMT group were higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05), and the max knee extension in stance in the MMT group was lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference between the ET group and MMT group (p > 0.05) or control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion MMT improved gait disorders in PD patients with FOG, thereby improving their comprehensive motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-peng Li
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zeng-qiao Zhang
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zong-lei Zhou
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-qing Su
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Xian-hua Wu
- Changqiao Community Health Service Centre, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo-han Shi
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-guang Xu
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intelligent Rehabilitation, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jian-guang Xu,
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5
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Agapaki M, Pinkerton EA, Papatzikis E. Music and neuroscience research for mental health, cognition, and development: Ways forward. Front Psychol 2022; 13:976883. [PMID: 36092029 PMCID: PMC9453743 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.976883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Agapaki
- Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Efthymios Papatzikis
- Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
- *Correspondence: Efthymios Papatzikis
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6
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Criscuolo A, Pando-Naude V, Bonetti L, Vuust P, Brattico E. An ALE meta-analytic review of musical expertise. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11726. [PMID: 35821035 PMCID: PMC9276732 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14959-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Through long-term training, music experts acquire complex and specialized sensorimotor skills, which are paralleled by continuous neuro-anatomical and -functional adaptations. The underlying neuroplasticity mechanisms have been extensively explored in decades of research in music, cognitive, and translational neuroscience. However, the absence of a comprehensive review and quantitative meta-analysis prevents the plethora of variegated findings to ultimately converge into a unified picture of the neuroanatomy of musical expertise. Here, we performed a comprehensive neuroimaging meta-analysis of publications investigating neuro-anatomical and -functional differences between musicians (M) and non-musicians (NM). Eighty-four studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. From these, 58 publications were included in coordinate-based meta-analyses using the anatomic/activation likelihood estimation (ALE) method. This comprehensive approach delivers a coherent cortico-subcortical network encompassing sensorimotor and limbic regions bilaterally. Particularly, M exhibited higher volume/activity in auditory, sensorimotor, interoceptive, and limbic brain areas and lower volume/activity in parietal areas as opposed to NM. Notably, we reveal topographical (dis-)similarities between the identified functional and anatomical networks and characterize their link to various cognitive functions by means of meta-analytic connectivity modelling. Overall, we effectively synthesized decades of research in the field and provide a consistent and controversies-free picture of the neuroanatomy of musical expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Criscuolo
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Victor Pando-Naude
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Leonardo Bonetti
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Center for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter Vuust
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Elvira Brattico
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus C, Denmark
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7
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Bojner Horwitz E, Korošec K, Theorell T. Can Dance and Music Make the Transition to a Sustainable Society More Feasible? Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12010011. [PMID: 35049622 PMCID: PMC8772942 DOI: 10.3390/bs12010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Transition to sustainability is a process that requires change on all levels of society from the physical to the psychological. This review takes an interdisciplinary view of the landscapes of research that contribute to the development of pro-social behaviors that align with sustainability goals, or what we call 'inner sustainability'. Engaging in musical and dance activities can make people feel trust and connectedness, promote prosocial behavior within a group, and also reduce prejudices between groups. Sustained engagement in these art forms brings change in a matter of seconds (such as hormonal changes and associated stress relief), months (such as improved emotional wellbeing and learning outcomes), and decades (such as structural changes to the brains of musicians and dancers and superior skills in expressing and understanding emotion). In this review, we bridge the often-separate domains of the arts and sciences by presenting evidence that suggests music and dance promote self-awareness, learning, care for others and wellbeing at individual and group levels. In doing so, we argue that artistic practices have a key role to play in leading the transformations necessary for a sustainable society. We require a movement of action that provides dance and music within a constructive framework for stimulating social sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bojner Horwitz
- Department of Music, Pedagogy and Society, Royal College of Music, P.O. Box 277 11, SE-115 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (K.K.); (T.T.)
- Center for Social Sustainability, Institution of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, SE-141 83 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| | - Kaja Korošec
- Department of Music, Pedagogy and Society, Royal College of Music, P.O. Box 277 11, SE-115 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (K.K.); (T.T.)
- Center for Social Sustainability, Institution of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, SE-141 83 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Töres Theorell
- Department of Music, Pedagogy and Society, Royal College of Music, P.O. Box 277 11, SE-115 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (K.K.); (T.T.)
- Center for Social Sustainability, Institution of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, SE-141 83 Stockholm, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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Alves-Pinto A, Emch M, Lampe R. Effects of Piano Training in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy Using Probabilistic and Deterministic Tractography: A Case Report. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:622082. [PMID: 34744658 PMCID: PMC8567167 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.622082] [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: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term encompassing motor and often additional disabilities, resulting from insult to the developing brain and remaining throughout life. Imaging-detected alterations in white matter microstructure affect not only motor but also sensorimotor pathways. In this context, piano training is believed to promote sensorimotor rehabilitation for the multiplicity of skills and neuronal processes it involves and integrates. However, it remains unknown how this contribution may occur. Here, effects of 1.5 years of piano training in an adolescent with unilateral CP were investigated through tests of manual function and by comparing fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, radial and axial diffusivity in neuronal pathways pre- vs. post-training. In the absence of a control condition and of data from a larger cohort, both probabilistic neighborhood and deterministic tractography were employed to reduce bias associated with a single-case analysis and/or with user-input. No changes in manual function were detected with the tests performed. In turn, the two tractography methods yielded similar values for all studied metrics. Furthermore, post-hoc analyses yielded increased fractional anisotropy accompanied by decreases in mean diffusivity in the bilateral dorsal cingulate that were at least as large as and more consistent than in the bilateral corticospinal tract. This suggests contributions of training to the development of non-motor processes. Reduced anisotropy and correspondingly high mean diffusivity were observed for the bilateral corticospinal tract as well as for the right arcuate and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, two sensory processing-related pathways, confirming the importance of sensorimotor rehabilitation in CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Alves-Pinto
- Research Unit of the Buhl-Strohmaier Foundation for Pediatric Neuroorthopaedics and Cerebral Palsy, Orthopaedic Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mónica Emch
- Department of Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Renée Lampe
- Research Unit of the Buhl-Strohmaier Foundation for Pediatric Neuroorthopaedics and Cerebral Palsy, Orthopaedic Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Markus Würth Stiftungsprofessur, Munich, Germany
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9
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Rajan A, Shah A, Ingalhalikar M, Singh NC. Structural connectivity predicts sequential processing differences in music perception ability. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6093-6103. [PMID: 34340255 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15407] [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: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
To relate individual differences in music perception ability with whole brain white matter connectivity, we scanned a group of 27 individuals with varying degrees of musical training and assessed musical ability in sensory and sequential music perception domains using the Profile of Music Perception Skills-Short version (PROMS-S). Sequential processing ability was estimated by combining performance on tasks for Melody, Standard Rhythm, Embedded Rhythm, and Accent subscores while sensory processing ability was ascertained via tasks of Tempo, Pitch, Timbre, and Tuning. Controlling for musical training, gender, and years of training, network-based statistics revealed positive linear associations between total PROMS-S scores and increased interhemispheric fronto-temporal and parieto-frontal white matter connectivity, suggesting a distinct segregated structural network for music perception. Secondary analysis revealed two subnetworks for sequential processing ability, one comprising ventral fronto-temporal and subcortical regions and the other comprising dorsal fronto-temporo-parietal regions. A graph-theoretic analysis to characterize the structural network revealed a positive association of modularity of the whole brain structural connectome with the d' total score. In addition, the nodal degree of the right posterior cingulate cortex also showed a significant positive correlation with the total d' score. Our results suggest that a distinct structural network of connectivity across fronto-temporal, cerebellar, and cerebro-subcortical regions is associated with music processing abilities and the right posterior cingulate cortex mediates the connectivity of this network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archith Rajan
- Symbiosis Centre for Medical Image Analysis, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
| | - Apurva Shah
- Symbiosis Centre for Medical Image Analysis, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
| | - Madhura Ingalhalikar
- Symbiosis Centre for Medical Image Analysis, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
| | - Nandini Chatterjee Singh
- Language Literacy and Music Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre (Deemed University), Manesar, India.,Science of Learning, UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, New Delhi, India
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10
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Bisio A, Faelli E, Pelosin E, Carrara G, Ferrando V, Avanzino L, Ruggeri P. Evaluation of Explicit Motor Timing Ability in Young Tennis Players. Front Psychol 2021; 12:687302. [PMID: 34248791 PMCID: PMC8264372 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.687302] [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: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A crucial ability for athletes playing sports that involve coincidence timing actions is the motor timing ability. The efficiency of perceptual and motor processes underlying the motor timing ability has been related to the motor experience gained in interceptive sports, such as tennis. In the present study, the motor timing ability in young tennis players (TP) and age-matched control participants (CTRL) was compared by means of a synchronization paradigm. Participants were asked to perform finger-opposition movements in synch to a metronome beating 0.5 and 2 Hz in (1) a bimanual coordination test, which compared the performance of the dominant hand with that of the contralateral hand, and (2) a movement lateralization test, which compared the motor performance of the dominant hand during single-hand and bimanual tasks (BTs). The motor performance was evaluated through movement strategy [defined by touch duration (TD), inter-tapping interval (ITI), and movement frequency] and movement accuracy (temporal accuracy defined by the synchronization error and spatial accuracy defined by the percentage of correct touches—%CORR_SEQ). Results showed that motor expertise significantly influences movement strategy in the bimanual coordination test; TD of TP was significantly higher than those of CTRL, specifically at 0.5 Hz. Furthermore, overall ITI values of TP were lower than those of CTRL. Lastly, in the movement lateralization test, the %CORR_SEQ executed with the right dominant hand by TP in the BT was significantly higher than those of CTRL. A discussion about the role of motor expertise in the timing ability and the related neurophysiological adaptations is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Bisio
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emanuela Faelli
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa Pelosin
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gloria Carrara
- Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vittoria Ferrando
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Avanzino
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Ruggeri
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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11
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Gustavson DE, Coleman PL, Iversen JR, Maes HH, Gordon RL, Lense MD. Mental health and music engagement: review, framework, and guidelines for future studies. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:370. [PMID: 34226495 PMCID: PMC8257764 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01483-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Is engaging with music good for your mental health? This question has long been the topic of empirical clinical and nonclinical investigations, with studies indicating positive associations between music engagement and quality of life, reduced depression or anxiety symptoms, and less frequent substance use. However, many earlier investigations were limited by small populations and methodological limitations, and it has also been suggested that aspects of music engagement may even be associated with worse mental health outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review is first to summarize the existing state of music engagement and mental health studies, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. We focus on broad domains of mental health diagnoses including internalizing psychopathology (e.g., depression and anxiety symptoms and diagnoses), externalizing psychopathology (e.g., substance use), and thought disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). Second, we propose a theoretical model to inform future work that describes the importance of simultaneously considering music-mental health associations at the levels of (1) correlated genetic and/or environmental influences vs. (bi)directional associations, (2) interactions with genetic risk factors, (3) treatment efficacy, and (4) mediation through brain structure and function. Finally, we describe how recent advances in large-scale data collection, including genetic, neuroimaging, and electronic health record studies, allow for a more rigorous examination of these associations that can also elucidate their neurobiological substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Gustavson
- grid.412807.80000 0004 1936 9916Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA ,grid.412807.80000 0004 1936 9916Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Peyton L. Coleman
- grid.412807.80000 0004 1936 9916Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
| | - John R. Iversen
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, Institute for Neural Computation, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Hermine H. Maes
- grid.224260.00000 0004 0458 8737Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA USA ,grid.224260.00000 0004 0458 8737Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA USA ,grid.224260.00000 0004 0458 8737Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA USA
| | - Reyna L. Gordon
- grid.412807.80000 0004 1936 9916Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA ,grid.412807.80000 0004 1936 9916Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA ,grid.152326.10000 0001 2264 7217Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN USA ,grid.152326.10000 0001 2264 7217The Curb Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Miriam D. Lense
- grid.412807.80000 0004 1936 9916Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA ,grid.152326.10000 0001 2264 7217Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN USA ,grid.152326.10000 0001 2264 7217The Curb Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN USA
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12
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Harvey A, Hou L, Davidson-Kelly K, Schaefer RS, Hong S, Mangin JF, Overy K, Roberts N. Increased representation of the non-dominant hand in pianists demonstrated by measurement of 3D morphology of the central sulcus. PSYCHORADIOLOGY 2021; 1:66-72. [PMID: 38665358 PMCID: PMC10939323 DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkab004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Post-mortem and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the central sulcus, as an indicator of motor cortex, have shown that in the general population there is greater representation of the dominant compared to the non-dominant hand. Studies of musicians, who are highly skilled in performing complex finger movements, have suggested this dominance is affected by musical training, but methods and findings have been mixed. Objective In the present study, an automated image analysis pipeline using a 3D mesh approach was applied to measure central sulcus (CS) asymmetry on MR images obtained for a cohort of right-handed pianists and matched controls. Methods The depth, length, and surface area (SA) of the CS and thickness of the cortical mantle adjacent to the CS were measured in each cerebral hemisphere by applying the BrainVISA Morphologist 2012 software pipeline to 3D T1-weighted MR images of the brain obtained for 15 right-handed pianists and 14 controls, matched with respect to age, sex, and handedness. Asymmetry indices (AIs) were calculated for each parameter and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), and post hoc tests were performed to compare differences between the pianist and control groups. Results A one-way MANCOVA across the four AIs, controlling for age and sex, revealed a significant main effect of group (P = 0.04), and post hoc analysis revealed that while SA was significantly greater in the left than the right cerebral hemisphere in controls (P < 0.001), there was no significant difference between left and right SA in the pianists (P = 0.634). Independent samples t-tests revealed that the SA of right CS was significantly larger in pianists compared to controls (P = 0.015), with no between-group differences in left CS. Conclusions Application of an image analysis pipeline to 3D MR images has provided robust evidence of significantly increased representation of the non-dominant hand in the brain of pianists compared to age-, sex-, and handedness-matched controls. This finding supports prior research showing structural differences in the central sulcus in musicians and is interpreted to reflect the long-term motor training and high skill level of right-handed pianists in using their left hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Harvey
- Reid School of Music, Alison House, 12 Nicolson Square, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9DF, UK
- School of Clinical Sciences, The Queen's Medical Research Institute (QMRI), University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Lewis Hou
- School of Clinical Sciences, The Queen's Medical Research Institute (QMRI), University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | | | - Rebecca S Schaefer
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute for Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sujin Hong
- Neuropolitics Research Lab and Edinburgh Imaging, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9LN, UK
| | - Jean-François Mangin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Neurospin, Baobab, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Katie Overy
- Reid School of Music, Alison House, 12 Nicolson Square, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9DF, UK
| | - Neil Roberts
- School of Clinical Sciences, The Queen's Medical Research Institute (QMRI), University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
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Kowalczyk‐Grębska N, Skorko M, Dobrowolski P, Kossowski B, Myśliwiec M, Hryniewicz N, Gaca M, Marchewka A, Kossut M, Brzezicka A. Lenticular nucleus volume predicts performance in real-time strategy game: cross-sectional and training approach using voxel-based morphometry. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1492:42-57. [PMID: 33372699 PMCID: PMC8246877 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
It is unclear why some people learn faster than others. We performed two independent studies in which we investigated the neural basis of real-time strategy (RTS) gaming and neural predictors of RTS game skill acquisition. In the first (cross-sectional) study, we found that experts in the RTS game StarCraft® II (SC2) had a larger lenticular nucleus volume (LNV) than non-RTS players. We followed a cross-validation procedure where we used the volume of regions identified in the first study to predict the quality of learning a new, complex skill (SC2) in a sample of individuals who were naive to RTS games (a second (training) study). Our findings provide new insights into how the LNV, which is associated with motor as well as cognitive functions, can be utilized to predict successful skill learning and be applied to a much broader context than just video games, such as contributing to optimizing cognitive training interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maciek Skorko
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
| | | | - Bartosz Kossowski
- Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
| | - Monika Myśliwiec
- Faculty of PsychologySWPS University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesWarsawPoland
| | - Nikodem Hryniewicz
- CNS Lab, Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
| | - Maciej Gaca
- Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
| | - Artur Marchewka
- Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
| | - Małgorzata Kossut
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity, Department of Molecular and Cellular NeurobiologyNencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
| | - Aneta Brzezicka
- Faculty of PsychologySWPS University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesWarsawPoland
- Department of NeurosurgeryCedars‐Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesCalifornia
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14
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Dhakal K, Norgaard M, Dhamala M. Enhanced White Matter Fiber Tracts in Advanced Jazz Improvisers. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040506. [PMID: 33923597 PMCID: PMC8073640 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cognition and behavior arise from neuronal interactions over brain structural networks. These neuronal interactions cause changes in structural networks over time. How a creative activity such as musical improvisation performance changes the brain structure is largely unknown. In this diffusion magnetic resonance imaging study, we examined the brain’s white matter fiber properties in previously identified functional networks and compared the findings between advanced jazz improvisers and non-musicians. We found that, for advanced improvisers compared with non-musicians, the normalized quantitative anisotropy (NQA) is elevated in the lateral prefrontal areas and supplementary motor area, and the underlying white matter fiber tracts connecting these areas. This enhancement of the diffusion anisotropy along the fiber pathway connecting the lateral prefrontal and supplementary motor is consistent with the functional networks during musical improvisation tasks performed by expert jazz improvisers. These findings together suggest that experts’ creative skill is associated with the task-relevant, long-timescale brain structural network changes, in support of related cognitive underpinnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Dhakal
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA;
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Martin Norgaard
- School of Music, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA;
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Mukesh Dhamala
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Georgia State-Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Center for Nano-Optics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Correspondence:
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15
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MEG Intersubject Phase Locking of Stimulus-Driven Activity during Naturalistic Speech Listening Correlates with Musical Training. J Neurosci 2021; 41:2713-2722. [PMID: 33536196 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0932-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Musical training is associated with increased structural and functional connectivity between auditory sensory areas and higher-order brain networks involved in speech and motor processing. Whether such changed connectivity patterns facilitate the cortical propagation of speech information in musicians remains poorly understood. We here used magnetoencephalography (MEG) source imaging and a novel seed-based intersubject phase-locking approach to investigate the effects of musical training on the interregional synchronization of stimulus-driven neural responses during listening to naturalistic continuous speech presented in silence. MEG data were obtained from 20 young human subjects (both sexes) with different degrees of musical training. Our data show robust bilateral patterns of stimulus-driven interregional phase synchronization between auditory cortex and frontotemporal brain regions previously associated with speech processing. Stimulus-driven phase locking was maximal in the delta band, but was also observed in the theta and alpha bands. The individual duration of musical training was positively associated with the magnitude of stimulus-driven alpha-band phase locking between auditory cortex and parts of the dorsal and ventral auditory processing streams. These findings provide evidence for a positive relationship between musical training and the propagation of speech-related information between auditory sensory areas and higher-order processing networks, even when speech is presented in silence. We suggest that the increased synchronization of higher-order cortical regions to auditory cortex may contribute to the previously described musician advantage in processing speech in background noise.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Musical training has been associated with widespread structural and functional brain plasticity. It has been suggested that these changes benefit the production and perception of music but can also translate to other domains of auditory processing, such as speech. We developed a new magnetoencephalography intersubject analysis approach to study the cortical synchronization of stimulus-driven neural responses during the perception of continuous natural speech and its relationship to individual musical training. Our results provide evidence that musical training is associated with higher synchronization of stimulus-driven activity between brain regions involved in early auditory sensory and higher-order processing. We suggest that the increased synchronized propagation of speech information may contribute to the previously described musician advantage in processing speech in background noise.
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Music Playing and Interhemispheric Communication: Older Professional Musicians Outperform Age-Matched Non-Musicians in Fingertip Cross-Localization Test. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2021; 27:282-292. [PMID: 32967757 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617720000946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Numerous investigations have documented that age-related changes in the integrity of the corpus callosum are associated with age-related decline in the interhemispheric transfer of information. Conversely, there is accumulating evidence for more efficient white matter organization of the corpus callosum in individuals with extensive musical training. However, the relationship between making music and accuracy in interhemispheric transfer remains poorly explored. METHODS To test the hypothesis that musicians show enhanced functional connectivity between the two hemispheres, 65 professional musicians (aged 56-90 years) and 65 age- and sex-matched non-musicians performed the fingertip cross-localization test. In this task, subjects must respond to a tactile stimulus presented to one hand using the ipsilateral (intra-hemispheric test) or contralateral (inter-hemispheric test) hand. Because the transfer of information from one hemisphere to another may imply a loss of accuracy, the value of the difference between the intrahemispheric and interhemispheric tests can be utilized as a reliable measure of the effectiveness of hemispheric interactions. RESULTS Older professional musicians show significantly greater accuracy in tactile interhemispheric transfer than non-musicians who suffer from age-related decline. CONCLUSIONS Musicians have more efficient interhemispheric communication than age-matched non-musicians. This finding is in keeping with studies showing that individuals with extensive musical training have a larger corpus callosum. The results are discussed in relation to relevant data suggesting that music positively influences aging brain plasticity.
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17
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Brattico E, Bonetti L, Ferretti G, Vuust P, Matrone C. Putting Cells in Motion: Advantages of Endogenous Boosting of BDNF Production. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010183. [PMID: 33477654 PMCID: PMC7831493 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor exercise, such as sport or musical activities, helps with a plethora of diseases by modulating brain functions in neocortical and subcortical regions, resulting in behavioural changes related to mood regulation, well-being, memory, and even cognitive preservation in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Although evidence is accumulating on the systemic neural mechanisms mediating these brain effects, the specific mechanisms by which exercise acts upon the cellular level are still under investigation. This is particularly the case for music training, a much less studied instance of motor exercise than sport. With regards to sport, consistent neurobiological research has focused on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an essential player in the central nervous system. BDNF stimulates the growth and differentiation of neurons and synapses. It thrives in the hippocampus, the cortex, and the basal forebrain, which are the areas vital for memory, learning, and higher cognitive functions. Animal models and neurocognitive experiments on human athletes converge in demonstrating that physical exercise reliably boosts BDNF levels. In this review, we highlight comparable early findings obtained with animal models and elderly humans exposed to musical stimulation, showing how perceptual exposure to music might affect BDNF release, similar to what has been observed for sport. We subsequently propose a novel hypothesis that relates the neuroplastic changes in the human brains after musical training to genetically- and exercise-driven BDNF levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Brattico
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; (L.B.); (P.V.)
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Leonardo Bonetti
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; (L.B.); (P.V.)
| | - Gabriella Ferretti
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Peter Vuust
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; (L.B.); (P.V.)
| | - Carmela Matrone
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence: (E.B.); (C.M.)
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18
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Sutcliffe R, Du K, Ruffman T. Music Making and Neuropsychological Aging: A Review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:479-491. [PMID: 32302600 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Aging is associated with a decline in social understanding and general cognition. Both are integral to wellbeing and rely on similar brain regions. Thus, as the population ages, there is a growing need for knowledge on the types of activities that maintain brain health in older adulthood. Active engagement in music making might be one such activity because it places a demand on brain networks tapping into multisensory integration, learning, reward, and cognition. It has been hypothesized that this demand may promote plasticity in the frontal and temporal lobes by taxing cognitive abilities and, hence, increase resistance to age-related neurodegeneration. We examine research relevant to this hypothesis and note that there is a lack of intervention studies with a well-matched control condition and random assignment. Thus, we discuss potential causal mechanisms underlying training-related neuropsychological changes, and provide suggestions for future research. It is argued that although music training might be a valuable tool for supporting healthy neuropsychological aging and mental wellbeing, well-controlled intervention studies are necessary to provide clear evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Sutcliffe
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand.
| | - Kangning Du
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Ted Ruffman
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand.
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19
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Orlandi A, D'Incà S, Proverbio AM. Muscular effort coding in action representation in ballet dancers and controls: Electrophysiological evidence. Brain Res 2020; 1733:146712. [PMID: 32044337 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The present electrophysiological (EEG) study investigated the neural correlates of perceiving effortful vs. effortless movements belonging to a specific repertoire (ballet). Previous evidence has shown an increased heart and respiratory rate during the observation and imagination of human actions that require a great muscular effort. In addition, TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and EEG studies have evidenced a greater muscle-specific cortical excitability and an increase in late event-related potentials during the observation of effortful actions. In this investigation, fifteen professional female ballet dancers and 15 controls with no experience whatsoever with dance, gymnastics, or martial arts were recruited. They were shown 326 short videos displaying a male dancer performing standard ballet steps that could be either effortful or relatively effortless. Participants were instructed to observe each clip and imagine themselves physically executing the same movement. Importantly, they were blinded to the stimuli properties. The observation of effortful compared with effortless movements resulted in a larger P300 over frontal sites in dancers only, likely because of their visuomotor expertise with the specific steps. Moreover, an enhanced Late Positivity was identified over posterior sites in response to effortful stimuli in both groups, possibly reflecting the processing of larger quantities of visual kinematic information. The source reconstruction swLORETA performed on the Late Positivity component showed greater engagement of frontoparietal regions in dancers, while task-related frontal and occipitotemporal visual regions were more active in controls. It, therefore, appears that, in dancers, effort information was encoded in a more refined manner during action observation and in the absence of explicit instruction. Acquired motor knowledge seems to result in visuomotor resonance processes, which, in turn, underlies enhanced action representation of the observed movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Orlandi
- Neuro-MI, Milan Center for Neuroscience, Dept. of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
| | - Silvia D'Incà
- Neuro-MI, Milan Center for Neuroscience, Dept. of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Alice Mado Proverbio
- Neuro-MI, Milan Center for Neuroscience, Dept. of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
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20
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Ribeiro FS, Santos FH. Persistent Effects of Musical Training on Mathematical Skills of Children With Developmental Dyscalculia. Front Psychol 2020; 10:2888. [PMID: 31998179 PMCID: PMC6965363 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Musical training (MT) is perceived as a multi-sensory program that simultaneously integrates visual, aural, oral, and kinesthetic senses. Furthermore, MT stimulates cognitive functions in a ludic way instead of tapping straight into the traditional context of school learning, including mathematics. Nevertheless, the efficacy of MT over mathematics remains understudied, especially concerning longstanding effects. For this reason, this longitudinal study explored the impact of MT on numerical cognition and abstract visual reasoning using a double-blind and quasi-experimental design. We assessed two groups of children from primary schools, namely one with developmental dyscalculia [DD; n = 22] and another comprising typically developing children [TD; n = 22], who concomitantly underwent MT. Numerical cognition measurement was carried out at four different time points: Baseline (pre-MT assessment), mid-test (after 7 weeks of MT), post-test (after 14 weeks of MT), and follow-up (10 weeks after the end of MT). Significant interactions were found between time and group for numerical cognition performance, in which the DD group showed higher scores in number comprehension, number production at mid-test, and calculation at post-test compared to baseline. A key finding was that number production, number comprehension, and calculation effects were time-resistant for the DD group since changes remained on follow-up. Moreover, no significant differences over time were found for abstract visual reasoning for both groups. In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that MT appears to be a useful tool for compensatory remediation of DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Silva Ribeiro
- Faculty of Education and Psychology (CEDH/HNL), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
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21
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Bastepe-Gray SE, Acer N, Gumus KZ, Gray JF, Degirmencioglu L. Not all imagery is created equal: A functional Magnetic resonance imaging study of internally driven and symbol driven musical performance imagery. J Chem Neuroanat 2020; 104:101748. [PMID: 31954767 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2020.101748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Playing a musical instrument requires fast multimodal sensory-motor processing which can be activated by voluntary access to performance imagery. Musicians use different methods to activate imagery for the purpose of "mental practice". The aim of the present study was to investigate cortical activation patterns in different methods of mental practice of musical performance. While undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 7 male oud (fretless lute) players engaged in performance imagery of a pre-memorized short excerpt from mainstream oud repertoire using three common imagery methods (task conditions): From memory (internally driven) 1)eyes closed, 2)eyes open, and while following the musical score (symbol driven). The study design consisted of a four-task 16-epoch block design where the 4th task was an eyes-open rest tasks (EOR) included as a control condition. Each task was repeated four times in a pseudorandomized sequence. The superior temporal gyrus and transvers temporal gyrus (Heschl) were active in the left and right hemispheres in all imagery conditions. The occipital cortex, specifically the fusiform gyrus was active in all three conditions. Symbol driven imagery resulted in less prominent activations in frontal and parietal lobes. The findings suggest that not all imagery modalities activate sensory and motor areas similarly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serap E Bastepe-Gray
- Johns Hopkins University, The Peabody Conservatory, and School of Medicine, Dept. of Neurology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | - Niyazi Acer
- Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Anatomy, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Kazim Z Gumus
- Erciyes University, Biomedical Imaging Research Center, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Julian F Gray
- Johns Hopkins University, The Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Oechslin MS, Gschwind M, James CE. Tracking Training-Related Plasticity by Combining fMRI and DTI: The Right Hemisphere Ventral Stream Mediates Musical Syntax Processing. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:1209-1218. [PMID: 28203797 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
As a functional homolog for left-hemispheric syntax processing in language, neuroimaging studies evidenced involvement of right prefrontal regions in musical syntax processing, of which underlying white matter connectivity remains unexplored so far. In the current experiment, we investigated the underlying pathway architecture in subjects with 3 levels of musical expertise. Employing diffusion tensor imaging tractography, departing from seeds from our previous functional magnetic resonance imaging study on music syntax processing in the same participants, we identified a pathway in the right ventral stream that connects the middle temporal lobe with the inferior frontal cortex via the extreme capsule, and corresponds to the left hemisphere ventral stream, classically attributed to syntax processing in language comprehension. Additional morphometric consistency analyses allowed dissociating tract core from more dispersed fiber portions. Musical expertise related to higher tract consistency of the right ventral stream pathway. Specifically, tract consistency in this pathway predicted the sensitivity for musical syntax violations. We conclude that enduring musical practice sculpts ventral stream architecture. Our results suggest that training-related pathway plasticity facilitates the right hemisphere ventral stream information transfer, supporting an improved sound-to-meaning mapping in music.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias S Oechslin
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Education and Culture of the Canton of Thurgau, CH-8500, Frauenfeld, Switzerland
| | - Markus Gschwind
- Department of Neurology, Geneva University Hospitals, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Neuroscience, Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Clara E James
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.,Geneva Neuroscience Center, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.,HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, School of Health Sciences, CH-1206 Geneva, Switzerland
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23
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Wired for musical rhythm? A diffusion MRI-based study of individual differences in music perception. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:1711-1722. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01868-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Nair PS, Kuusi T, Ahvenainen M, Philips AK, Järvelä I. Music-performance regulates microRNAs in professional musicians. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6660. [PMID: 30956902 PMCID: PMC6442922 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Musical training and performance require precise integration of multisensory and motor centres of the human brain and can be regarded as an epigenetic modifier of brain functions. Numerous studies have identified structural and functional differences between the brains of musicians and non-musicians and superior cognitive functions in musicians. Recently, music-listening and performance has also been shown to affect the regulation of several genes, many of which were identified in songbird singing. MicroRNAs affect gene regulation and studying their expression may give new insights into the epigenetic effect of music. Here, we studied the effect of 2 hours of classical music-performance on the peripheral blood microRNA expressions in professional musicians with respect to a control activity without music for the same duration. As detecting transcriptomic changes in the functional human brain remains a challenge for geneticists, we used peripheral blood to study music-performance induced microRNA changes and interpreted the results in terms of potential effects on brain function, based on the current knowledge about the microRNA function in blood and brain. We identified significant (FDR <0.05) up-regulation of five microRNAs; hsa-miR-3909, hsa-miR-30d-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p, hsa-miR-222-3p and hsa-miR-30a-5p; and down-regulation of two microRNAs; hsa-miR-6803-3p and hsa-miR-1249-3p. hsa-miR-222-3p and hsa-miR-92a-3p putatively target FOXP2, which was found down-regulated by microRNA regulation in songbird singing. miR-30d and miR-222 corroborate microRNA response observed in zebra finch song-listening/learning. miR-222 is induced by ERK cascade, which is important for memory formation, motor neuron functions and neuronal plasticity. miR-222 is also activated by FOSL1, an immediate early gene from the FOS family of transcriptional regulators which are activated by auditory-motor stimuli. miR-222 and miR-92 promote neurite outgrowth by negatively regulating the neuronal growth inhibitor, PTEN, and by activating CREB expression and phosphorylation. The up-regulation of microRNAs previously found to be regulators of auditory and nervous system functions (miR-30d, miR-92a and miR-222) is indicative of the sensory perception processes associated with music-performance. Akt signalling pathway which has roles in cell survival, cell differentiation, activation of CREB signalling and dopamine transmission was one of the functions regulated by the up-regulated microRNAs; in accordance with functions identified from songbird learning. The up-regulated microRNAs were also found to be regulators of apoptosis, suggesting repression of apoptotic mechanisms in connection with music-performance. Furthermore, comparative analyses of the target genes of differentially expressed microRNAs with that of the song-responsive microRNAs in songbirds suggest convergent regulatory mechanisms underlying auditory perception.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tuire Kuusi
- DocMus Doctoral School, Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minna Ahvenainen
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anju K Philips
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Irma Järvelä
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Mansens D, Deeg DJH, Comijs HC. The association between singing and/or playing a musical instrument and cognitive functions in older adults. Aging Ment Health 2018; 22:964-971. [PMID: 28521542 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1328481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cognitive decline happens to everyone when aging, but to some more than others. Studies with children, adults, and professional musicians suggest that making music could be associated with better cognitive functioning. In older adults however, this association is less well investigated, which is therefore the aim of this study. METHODS In this cross-sectional study data from 1101 participants aged 64 and older from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to test the association between making music and cognitive functioning and time spent making music and cognitive functioning. ANCOVA analyses were performed to differentiate between participants who made no music, only sang, only played an instrument or both sang and played an instrument in terms of cognitive functioning. RESULTS Making music was significantly positively associated with letter fluency, learning and attention/short-term memory. Time spent making music yielded no significant results. The ANCOVA analyses showed higher scores for participants who only played an instrument compared to participants who made no music on learning, working memory and processing speed. For processing speed the instrument only group also had a higher score than participants who only sang. DISCUSSION Making music at least once every two weeks and especially playing a musical instrument, is associated with better attention, episodic memory and executive functions. The results suggest that making music might be a potential protective factor for cognitive decline; however, to support this notion a longitudinal study design is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Mansens
- a GGZ in Geest/Department of Psychiatry and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute , VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - D J H Deeg
- b Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics , Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - H C Comijs
- a GGZ in Geest/Department of Psychiatry and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute , VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
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Spatial selective attention biases are shaped by long-term musical experience and short-term exposure to tones. Brain Cogn 2018; 125:106-117. [PMID: 29990700 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2018.06.006] [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: 12/16/2017] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Selective attention is a dynamic process that rapidly shifts processing resources to information that is most relevant to our goals. Although individuals often show spatial biases in attention, these biases can be modified by both long-term factors, such as musical training, or by momentary changes in the auditory context. The present study used a visual search task to examine the influence of these factors on spatial attention biases while increasing demands on selective attention. Experiment 1 examined the effects of musical experience on baseline spatial selective attention biases during search. Individuals with little musical experience showed a typical leftward response bias that became stronger as the number of distractors increased. However, those with more musical experience showed similar responses to targets on the left and right sides, indicating an attenuation of the typical leftward spatial attention bias. Experiment 2 examined whether the addition of low- and high-frequency tones dynamically influenced participants' spatial attention biases during visual search. Participants showed increased orienting to and scanning of left-side distractor locations in response to low-frequency tones regardless of musical experience. The present results demonstrate that spatial attention biases are dynamic and can be shaped by both long-term experiences and momentary contextual effects.
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Reybrouck M, Vuust P, Brattico E. Brain Connectivity Networks and the Aesthetic Experience of Music. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8060107. [PMID: 29895737 PMCID: PMC6025331 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8060107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Listening to music is above all a human experience, which becomes an aesthetic experience when an individual immerses himself/herself in the music, dedicating attention to perceptual-cognitive-affective interpretation and evaluation. The study of these processes where the individual perceives, understands, enjoys and evaluates a set of auditory stimuli has mainly been focused on the effect of music on specific brain structures, as measured with neurophysiology and neuroimaging techniques. The very recent application of network science algorithms to brain research allows an insight into the functional connectivity between brain regions. These studies in network neuroscience have identified distinct circuits that function during goal-directed tasks and resting states. We review recent neuroimaging findings which indicate that music listening is traceable in terms of network connectivity and activations of target regions in the brain, in particular between the auditory cortex, the reward brain system and brain regions active during mind wandering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Reybrouck
- Faculty of Arts, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Art History, Musicology and Theater Studies, IPEM Institute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Peter Vuust
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Elvira Brattico
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
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Zuk J, Gaab N. Evaluating predisposition and training in shaping the musician's brain: the need for a developmental perspective. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1423:10.1111/nyas.13737. [PMID: 29799116 PMCID: PMC6252158 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The study of music training as a model for structural plasticity has evolved significantly over the past 15 years. Neuroimaging studies have identified characteristic structural brain alterations in musicians compared to nonmusicians in school-age children and adults, using primarily cross-sectional designs. Despite this emerging evidence and advances in pediatric neuroimaging techniques, hardly any studies have examined brain development in early childhood (before age 8) in association with musical training, and longitudinal studies starting in infancy or preschool are particularly scarce. Consequently, it remains unclear whether the characteristic "musician brain" is solely the result of musical training, or whether certain predispositions may have an impact on its development. Moving toward a developmental perspective, the present review considers various factors that may contribute to early brain structure prior to the onset of formal musical training. This review introduces a model for potential neurobiological pathways leading to the characteristic "musician brain," which involves a developmental interaction between predisposition and its temporal dynamics, environmental experience, and training-induced plasticity. This perspective illuminates the importance of studying the brain structure associated with musical training through a developmental lens, and the need for longitudinal studies in early childhood to advance our understanding of music training-induced structural plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Zuk
- Developmental Medicine Center, Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Developmental Medicine Center, Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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29
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Talking about childhood music: A twin study. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2018. [PMID: 29779739 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
To what extent do childhood experiences of music practice influence thinking about music later in life? In this contribution, 27-54-year-old monozygotic twins discordant with regard to piano playing in life were interviewed about music experiences during childhood and adult years. Recordings of heart rate variability were performed continuously during the interviews which were done separately with playing and nonplaying cotwins. Random factors had determined whether the twin chose to play or not. The rationale behind using monozygotic twins was that this offered a possibility to account totally for genetic influence. The physiological recordings in general showed small intrapair differences. However, during the initial discussion about how the difference arose in piano practice during childhood, the nonplaying twin used more time and showed evidence of a stronger sympathetic activation than the cotwin. These findings are discussed against the background of music's importance in childhood.
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Tichko P, Skoe E. Musical Experience, Sensorineural Auditory Processing, and Reading Subskills in Adults. Brain Sci 2018; 8:E77. [PMID: 29702572 PMCID: PMC5977068 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8050077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental research suggests that sensorineural auditory processing, reading subskills (e.g., phonological awareness and rapid naming), and musical experience are related during early periods of reading development. Interestingly, recent work suggests that these relations may extend into adulthood, with indices of sensorineural auditory processing relating to global reading ability. However, it is largely unknown whether sensorineural auditory processing relates to specific reading subskills, such as phonological awareness and rapid naming, as well as musical experience in mature readers. To address this question, we recorded electrophysiological responses to a repeating click (auditory stimulus) in a sample of adult readers. We then investigated relations between electrophysiological responses to sound, reading subskills, and musical experience in this same set of adult readers. Analyses suggest that sensorineural auditory processing, reading subskills, and musical experience are related in adulthood, with faster neural conduction times and greater musical experience associated with stronger rapid-naming skills. These results are similar to the developmental findings that suggest reading subskills are related to sensorineural auditory processing and musical experience in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parker Tichko
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Developmental Psychology Division, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
| | - Erika Skoe
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Developmental Psychology Division, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
- Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
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31
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Diffusion tensor and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging findings in the brains of professional musicians. J Chem Neuroanat 2017; 88:33-40. [PMID: 29113947 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Professional musicians represent an ideal model to study the training-induced brain plasticity. The current study aimed to investigate the brain volume and diffusion characteristics of musicians using structural magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The combined use of volumetric and diffusion methods in studying musician brain has not been done in literature. Our study group consisted of seven male musicians playing an instrument and seven age- and gender-matched non-musicians. We evaluated the volumes of gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and calculated total intracranial volume (TIV) and measured the fractional anisotropy (FA) of pre-selected WM bundles: corpus callosum (CC), corticospinal tract (CST), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), forceps major (ForMaj), forceps minor (ForMin), and arcuate fasciculus (AF). The mean WM/TIV volume in musicians was higher compared to non-musicians. The mean FA was lower in CC, SLF, ForMaj, ForMin, and right AF but higher in right CST in the musicians. The mean value of the total number of fibers was larger in the CST, SLF, left AF, and ForMaj in the musicians. The observed differences were not statistically significant between the groups (p>0.05). However, increased GM volume was found in the musicians compared to the non-musicians in the right and left cerebellum and supramarginal and angular gyrus, left superior and inferior parietal lobule and as well as left middle temporal gyrus. Our findings suggest differing brain structure in musicians and the confirmation of the results on a larger population.
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Moore E, Schaefer RS, Bastin ME, Roberts N, Overy K. Diffusion tensor MRI tractography reveals increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in arcuate fasciculus following music-cued motor training. Brain Cogn 2017; 116:40-46. [PMID: 28618361 PMCID: PMC5479403 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Auditory cues are frequently used to support movement learning and rehabilitation, but the neural basis of this behavioural effect is not yet clear. We investigated the microstructural neuroplasticity effects of adding musical cues to a motor learning task. We hypothesised that music-cued, left-handed motor training would increase fractional anisotropy (FA) in the contralateral arcuate fasciculus, a fibre tract connecting auditory, pre-motor and motor regions. Thirty right-handed participants were assigned to a motor learning condition either with (Music Group) or without (Control Group) musical cues. Participants completed 20minutes of training three times per week over four weeks. Diffusion tensor MRI and probabilistic neighbourhood tractography identified FA, axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivity before and after training. Results revealed that FA increased significantly in the right arcuate fasciculus of the Music group only, as hypothesised, with trends for AD to increase and RD to decrease, a pattern of results consistent with activity-dependent increases in myelination. No significant changes were found in the left ipsilateral arcuate fasciculus of either group. This is the first evidence that adding musical cues to movement learning can induce rapid microstructural change in white matter pathways in adults, with potential implications for therapeutic clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Moore
- Institute for Music in Human and Social Development (IMHSD), Reid School of Music, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rebecca S Schaefer
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mark E Bastin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil Roberts
- Clinical Research Imaging Centre (CRIC), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Katie Overy
- Institute for Music in Human and Social Development (IMHSD), Reid School of Music, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Department of Music Education, Don Wright Faculty of Music, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
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Hutka S, Carpentier SM, Bidelman GM, Moreno S, McIntosh AR. Musicianship and Tone Language Experience Are Associated with Differential Changes in Brain Signal Variability. J Cogn Neurosci 2016; 28:2044-2058. [DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Musicianship has been associated with auditory processing benefits. It is unclear, however, whether pitch processing experience in nonmusical contexts, namely, speaking a tone language, has comparable associations with auditory processing. Studies comparing the auditory processing of musicians and tone language speakers have shown varying degrees of between-group similarity with regard to perceptual processing benefits and, particularly, nonlinguistic pitch processing. To test whether the auditory abilities honed by musicianship or speaking a tone language differentially impact the neural networks supporting nonlinguistic pitch processing (relative to timbral processing), we employed a novel application of brain signal variability (BSV) analysis. BSV is a metric of information processing capacity and holds great potential for understanding the neural underpinnings of experience-dependent plasticity. Here, we measured BSV in electroencephalograms of musicians, tone language-speaking nonmusicians, and English-speaking nonmusicians (controls) during passive listening of music and speech sound contrasts. Although musicians showed greater BSV across the board, each group showed a unique spatiotemporal distribution in neural network engagement: Controls had greater BSV for speech than music; tone language-speaking nonmusicians showed the opposite effect; musicians showed similar BSV for both domains. Collectively, results suggest that musical and tone language pitch experience differentially affect auditory processing capacity within the cerebral cortex. However, information processing capacity is graded: More experience with pitch is associated with greater BSV when processing this cue. Higher BSV in musicians may suggest increased information integration within the brain networks subserving speech and music, which may be related to their well-documented advantages on a wide variety of speech-related tasks.
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34
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Blum K, Simpatico T, Febo M, Rodriquez C, Dushaj K, Li M, Braverman ER, Demetrovics Z, Oscar-Berman M, Badgaiyan RD. Hypothesizing Music Intervention Enhances Brain Functional Connectivity Involving Dopaminergic Recruitment: Common Neuro-correlates to Abusable Drugs. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:3753-3758. [PMID: 27246565 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-9934-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this review is to explore the clinical significance of music listening on neuroplasticity and dopaminergic activation by understanding the role of music therapy in addictive behavior treatment. fMRI data has shown that music listening intensely modifies mesolimbic structural changes responsible for reward processing (e.g., nucleus accumbens [NAc]) and may control the emotional stimuli's effect on autonomic and physiological responses (e.g., hypothalamus). Music listening has been proven to induce the endorphinergic response blocked by naloxone, a common opioid antagonist. NAc opioid transmission is linked to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine release. There are remarkable commonalities between listening to music and the effect of drugs on mesolimbic dopaminergic activation. It has been found that musical training before the age of 7 results in changes in white-matter connectivity, protecting carriers with low dopaminergic function (DRD2A1 allele, etc.) from poor decision-making, reward dependence, and impulsivity. In this article, we briefly review a few studies on the neurochemical effects of music and propose that these findings are relevant to the positive clinical findings observed in the literature. We hypothesize that music intervention enhances brain white matter plasticity through dopaminergic recruitment and that more research is needed to explore the efficacy of these therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Blum
- Department of Psychiatry & McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Box 100183, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0183, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry and Human Global Mental Health Institute, Center for Clinical & Translational Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA. .,Division of Neuroscience -Based Therapy, Summit Estate Recovery Center, Las Gatos, CA, USA. .,Division of Addition Services, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, RI, USA. .,PATH Foundation NY, New York, NY, USA. .,IGENE, LLC, Austin, TX, USA. .,Division of Applied Clinical Research, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, RI, USA. .,Department of Clinical Psychology and Addiction, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. .,Division of Neuroscience Research & Addiction Therapy, Shores Treatment & Recovery Center, Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA.
| | - Thomas Simpatico
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Global Mental Health Institute, Center for Clinical & Translational Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Marcelo Febo
- Department of Psychiatry & McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Box 100183, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0183, USA
| | | | | | - Mona Li
- PATH Foundation NY, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Addiction, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Marlene Oscar-Berman
- Departments of Psychiatry and Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rajendra D Badgaiyan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Neuromodulation Program, University of Minnesota Twin City Campus, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Laboratory of Advanced Radiochemistry, University of Minnesota Twin City Campus, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Giacosa C, Karpati FJ, Foster NEV, Penhune VB, Hyde KL. Dance and music training have different effects on white matter diffusivity in sensorimotor pathways. Neuroimage 2016; 135:273-86. [PMID: 27114054 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Giacosa
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Pavillon 1420 Mont Royal, FAS, Département de psychologie, CP 6128 Succ. Centre Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - Falisha J Karpati
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Pavillon 1420 Mont Royal, FAS, Département de psychologie, CP 6128 Succ. Centre Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Nicholas E V Foster
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Pavillon 1420 Mont Royal, FAS, Département de psychologie, CP 6128 Succ. Centre Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, 90 avenue Vincent d'Indy, Montreal, Quebec H2V 2S9, Canada
| | - Virginia B Penhune
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Pavillon 1420 Mont Royal, FAS, Département de psychologie, CP 6128 Succ. Centre Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Krista L Hyde
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Pavillon 1420 Mont Royal, FAS, Département de psychologie, CP 6128 Succ. Centre Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, 90 avenue Vincent d'Indy, Montreal, Quebec H2V 2S9, Canada
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Schaefer RS. Auditory rhythmic cueing in movement rehabilitation: findings and possible mechanisms. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 369:20130402. [PMID: 25385780 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Moving to music is intuitive and spontaneous, and music is widely used to support movement, most commonly during exercise. Auditory cues are increasingly also used in the rehabilitation of disordered movement, by aligning actions to sounds such as a metronome or music. Here, the effect of rhythmic auditory cueing on movement is discussed and representative findings of cued movement rehabilitation are considered for several movement disorders, specifically post-stroke motor impairment, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. There are multiple explanations for the efficacy of cued movement practice. Potentially relevant, non-mutually exclusive mechanisms include the acceleration of learning; qualitatively different motor learning owing to an auditory context; effects of increased temporal skills through rhythmic practices and motivational aspects of musical rhythm. Further considerations of rehabilitation paradigm efficacy focus on specific movement disorders, intervention methods and complexity of the auditory cues. Although clinical interventions using rhythmic auditory cueing do not show consistently positive results, it is argued that internal mechanisms of temporal prediction and tracking are crucial, and further research may inform rehabilitation practice to increase intervention efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Schaefer
- SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
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37
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Examining the relationship between skilled music training and attention. Conscious Cogn 2015; 36:169-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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38
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Choi US, Sung YW, Hong S, Chung JY, Ogawa S. Structural and functional plasticity specific to musical training with wind instruments. Front Hum Neurosci 2015; 9:597. [PMID: 26578939 PMCID: PMC4624850 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous neuroimaging studies have shown structural and functional changes resulting from musical training. Among these studies, changes in primary sensory areas are mostly related to motor functions. In this study, we looked for some similar functional and structural changes in other functional modalities, such as somatosensory function, by examining the effects of musical training with wind instruments. We found significant changes in two aspects of neuroplasticity, cortical thickness, and resting-state neuronal networks. A group of subjects with several years of continuous musical training and who are currently playing in university wind ensembles showed differences in cortical thickness in lip- and tongue-related brain areas vs. non-music playing subjects. Cortical thickness in lip-related brain areas was significantly thicker and that in tongue-related areas was significantly thinner in the music playing group compared with that in the non-music playing group. Association analysis of lip-related areas in the music playing group showed that the increase in cortical thickness was caused by musical training. In addition, seed-based correlation analysis showed differential activation in the precentral gyrus and supplementary motor areas (SMA) between the music and non-music playing groups. These results suggest that high-intensity training with specific musical instruments could induce structural changes in related anatomical areas and could also generate a new functional neuronal network in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uk-Su Choi
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science Incheon, South Korea
| | - Yul-Wan Sung
- Kansei Fukushi Research Institute, Tohoku Fukushi University Sendai, Japan
| | - Sujin Hong
- Reid School of Music, Edinburgh College of Art, Institute for Music and Human Society Development, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jun-Young Chung
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science Incheon, South Korea
| | - Seiji Ogawa
- Kansei Fukushi Research Institute, Tohoku Fukushi University Sendai, Japan
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Burunat I, Brattico E, Puoliväli T, Ristaniemi T, Sams M, Toiviainen P. Action in Perception: Prominent Visuo-Motor Functional Symmetry in Musicians during Music Listening. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138238. [PMID: 26422790 PMCID: PMC4589413 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Musical training leads to sensory and motor neuroplastic changes in the human brain. Motivated by findings on enlarged corpus callosum in musicians and asymmetric somatomotor representation in string players, we investigated the relationship between musical training, callosal anatomy, and interhemispheric functional symmetry during music listening. Functional symmetry was increased in musicians compared to nonmusicians, and in keyboardists compared to string players. This increased functional symmetry was prominent in visual and motor brain networks. Callosal size did not significantly differ between groups except for the posterior callosum in musicians compared to nonmusicians. We conclude that the distinctive postural and kinematic symmetry in instrument playing cross-modally shapes information processing in sensory-motor cortical areas during music listening. This cross-modal plasticity suggests that motor training affects music perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iballa Burunat
- Finnish Centre for Interdisciplinary Music Research, Department of Music, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
- * E-mail:
| | - Elvira Brattico
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Cognitive Brain Research Unit (CBRU), Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Advanced Magnetic Imaging (AMI) Centre, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Tuomas Puoliväli
- Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tapani Ristaniemi
- Department of Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Mikko Sams
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Petri Toiviainen
- Finnish Centre for Interdisciplinary Music Research, Department of Music, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
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Reybrouck M, Brattico E. Neuroplasticity beyond Sounds: Neural Adaptations Following Long-Term Musical Aesthetic Experiences. Brain Sci 2015; 5:69-91. [PMID: 25807006 PMCID: PMC4390792 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci5010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Revised: 02/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Capitalizing from neuroscience knowledge on how individuals are affected by the sound environment, we propose to adopt a cybernetic and ecological point of view on the musical aesthetic experience, which includes subprocesses, such as feature extraction and integration, early affective reactions and motor actions, style mastering and conceptualization, emotion and proprioception, evaluation and preference. In this perspective, the role of the listener/composer/performer is seen as that of an active “agent” coping in highly individual ways with the sounds. The findings concerning the neural adaptations in musicians, following long-term exposure to music, are then reviewed by keeping in mind the distinct subprocesses of a musical aesthetic experience. We conclude that these neural adaptations can be conceived of as the immediate and lifelong interactions with multisensorial stimuli (having a predominant auditory component), which result in lasting changes of the internal state of the “agent”. In a continuous loop, these changes affect, in turn, the subprocesses involved in a musical aesthetic experience, towards the final goal of achieving better perceptual, motor and proprioceptive responses to the immediate demands of the sounding environment. The resulting neural adaptations in musicians closely depend on the duration of the interactions, the starting age, the involvement of attention, the amount of motor practice and the musical genre played.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Reybrouck
- Section of Musicology, Faculty of Arts, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Blijde-Inkomststraat 21, P.O. Box 3313, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Center for Instructional Psychology and Technology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Dekenstraat 2, P.O. Box 3773, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Elvira Brattico
- Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Fabianinkatu 24, P.O. Box 4, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
- Cognitive Brain Research Unit, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Siltavuorenpenger 1 B, P.O. Box 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
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