Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 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
Active music classes in infancy enhance musical, communicative and social development
David Gerry1, Andrea Unrau, Laurel J Trainor
1Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
Developmental Science
|April 12, 2012
Summary
Early musical training starting at six months positively impacts infant development. Active musical engagement enhances cultural music knowledge, social skills, and communication more than passive exposure.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Music Cognition
- Infant Studies
Background:
- Prior research indicates musical training benefits child development.
- The precise timing, nature, and differential effects of early musical experiences remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the earliest age at which musical experience affects development.
- To determine if active versus passive musical exposure yields different outcomes.
- To explore the impact on musicality, social behavior, and communication.
Main Methods:
- Randomly assigned 6-month-old infants to either active participatory music or passive music exposure for 6 months.
- Assessed acquisition of Western tonality knowledge.
- Evaluated prelinguistic communicative gestures and social behaviors.
Main Results:
- Active musical experience accelerated the acquisition of culture-specific Western tonality knowledge.
- Infants in the active music group demonstrated superior development in prelinguistic communicative gestures.
- Active musical participation led to enhanced social behavior compared to passive exposure.
Conclusions:
- Infants can participate in meaningful musical training with appropriate pedagogy.
- Active musical engagement in infancy boosts culture-specific musical learning.
- Infant active musical participation positively influences social and communication development.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
01:22Language Development
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:29Three Developmental Domains
Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
01:31Hearing
When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.