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Hemispheric differences between left and right supramarginal gyrus for pitch and rhythm memory
Nora K Schaal1, Bettina Pollok2, Michael J Banissy3
1Department of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Scientific Reports
|February 16, 2017
Summary
The left supramarginal gyrus (SMG) enhances pitch memory, while the right SMG improves rhythm memory in non-musicians. This suggests distinct hemispheric roles in auditory memory processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Perception
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- The left supramarginal gyrus (SMG) is implicated in pitch memory via brain imaging and stimulation.
- The role of the SMG in memory for other auditory information, like rhythm, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of the left and right SMG in both pitch and rhythm memory.
- To determine if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the SMG can modulate these memory types.
Main Methods:
- Non-musicians received anodal or sham tDCS over the left SMG in one session and the right SMG in another.
- Participants completed pitch and rhythm recognition memory tasks immediately after stimulation.
Main Results:
- Anodal tDCS over the left SMG significantly improved pitch memory.
- Anodal tDCS over the right SMG significantly improved rhythm memory.
- No significant effects were observed for the sham condition or when stimulation was applied over the contralateral hemisphere for each task.
Conclusions:
- The left and right SMG exhibit specialized roles in auditory memory.
- The left SMG is crucial for pitch memory, whereas the right SMG is important for rhythm memory.
- Hemispheric lateralization in the SMG underlies the processing of different auditory features.
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