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Published on: September 12, 2012
Absolute pitch and planum temporale
J P Keenan1, V Thangaraj, A R Halpern
1Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Neuroimage
|November 15, 2001
Summary
Absolute-pitch (AP) musicians show greater leftward planum temporale (PT) asymmetry. This difference is primarily due to a smaller right PT, suggesting potential in-utero or genetic influences rather than solely early musical training.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Neuroanatomy
Background:
- Previous studies reported increased leftward planum temporale (PT) asymmetry in absolute-pitch (AP) musicians.
- Speculation exists that early music exposure influences PT asymmetry development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying anatomical basis of increased PT asymmetry in AP musicians.
- To determine if a larger left PT or a smaller right PT accounts for the observed asymmetry.
Main Methods:
- Anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used.
- Compared brain structure in 27 AP musicians, 27 nonmusicians, and 22 non-AP musicians.
Main Results:
- AP musicians exhibited significantly greater leftward PT asymmetry compared to controls.
- A significantly smaller right PT absolute size was observed in AP musicians.
- Right PT size, not left PT size, better predicted music group membership.
Conclusions:
- Increased PT asymmetry in AP musicians may stem from a smaller right PT, possibly due to "pruning."
- Findings suggest potential in-utero or genetic factors influencing PT asymmetry, rather than solely early musical experience.
- This could explain why early-learning non-AP musicians do not show the same asymmetry.
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