Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
11:50
Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
What does it mean to be musical?
1Department of Psychology and Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Dr. Penfield, Montreal QC H3A 1B1, Canada. dlevitin@psych.mcgill.ca
Neuron
|February 28, 2012
Summary
This study proposes a framework to define musicality, a concept crucial for understanding how genes and environment shape brain development. Defining musicality aids research into biological and environmental influences on neurocognition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Music provides a model for studying gene-environment interactions.
- The concept of musicality is currently ill-defined, hindering research.
- Understanding musicality is key to neurocognitive development studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a framework for defining musicality.
- To establish a foundation for studying biological and environmental factors in musicality.
- To advance research on the neurocognitive impacts of music.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual framework development.
- Literature review on musicality and neurocognition.
- Analysis of gene-environment interaction models.
Main Results:
- A proposed framework for defining musicality.
- Identification of key components of musicality.
- Elucidation of the role of biological and environmental factors.
Conclusions:
- A clear definition of musicality is necessary for scientific advancement.
- The proposed framework supports future research into musicality.
- This work contributes to understanding neurocognitive development through music.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Beats
The study of music provides many examples of the superposition of waves and the constructive and destructive interference that occurs. Very few examples of music being performed consist of a single source playing a single frequency for an extended period of time. A single frequency of sound for an extended period might be monotonous to the point of irritation, similar to the unwanted drone of an aircraft engine or a loud fan. Music is pleasant and exciting due to mixing the changing frequencies...
01:20Gene-Environment Interactions
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
01:01Perception of Sound Waves
The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...
01:04Problem-Solving: Tuning of a Guitar String
In the case of stringed instruments like the guitar, the elastic property that determines the speed of the sound produced is its linear mass density or the mass per unit length. This is simply called the linear density. If the string's linear density is constant along the string, then the linear density is simply the total mass divided by the total length.
The string's wave speed can be regulated by varying the linear density. Tension is the other property that determines the speed of...
The string's wave speed can be regulated by varying the linear density. Tension is the other property that determines the speed of...
01:17Auditory Perception
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the cochlea, a...
01:09Harmonic Mean
The arithmetic mean is usually skewed towards the larger values in the data set. Therefore, to avoid this inherent bias towards smaller values, the harmonic mean is used.
Take the example of the speed of a car, which is the measure of the rate of distance traveled. If the vehicle traverses the same distance back-and-forth, its average speed equals the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. However, if the car moves with varying speeds, then the arithmetic mean is more skewed...
Take the example of the speed of a car, which is the measure of the rate of distance traveled. If the vehicle traverses the same distance back-and-forth, its average speed equals the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. However, if the car moves with varying speeds, then the arithmetic mean is more skewed...