Connectivity patterns during music listening: Evidence for action-based processing in musicians.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Music Psychology

Background:

• Brain network integration differs between musicians and non-musicians during rest.
• Functional connectivity in default-mode (DMN) and salience (SN) networks distinguishes musical expertise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how brain networks exchange information during naturalistic music listening in musicians versus non-musicians.
• To identify neural network differences associated with musical training and age of onset.

Main Methods:

• Whole-brain graph-theory analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data.
• Comparison of network hubs and community structures between musicians and non-musicians.

Main Results:

• Musicians showed primary network hubs in sensorimotor regions, while non-musicians' hubs were in DMN regions.
• Musicians exhibited greater integration of upper limb and torso sensorimotor areas.
• Earlier musical training correlated with increased centrality in auditory and attention-related brain regions.

Conclusions:

• Musicians engage action-based neural networks during music listening, whereas non-musicians utilize perception-based networks.
• Brain network organization during music listening is shaped by musical expertise and training history.