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Brain Plasticity Reflects Specialized Cognitive Development Induced by Musical Training.
Uk-Su Choi1, Yul-Wan Sung2, Seiji Ogawa2
1Gwangju Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (GARD) Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea.
Cerebral Cortex Communications
|July 23, 2021
Summary
Learning a musical instrument reshapes the brain, with specific instruments like the piano and wind instruments inducing unique brain plasticity. This highlights how musical training enhances distinct cognitive functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Music Cognition
Background:
- Musical instrument training is known to induce brain plasticity.
- Previous studies often examined single instrument expertise, failing to isolate specific effects.
- Confounding factors common to all music training were not adequately controlled.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate instrument-specific brain plasticity.
- To differentiate the neural effects of learning a piano versus a wind instrument within the same individuals.
- To identify unique cognitive functions associated with specific musical training.
Main Methods:
- Studied musicians with experience in both piano and wind instruments (e.g., flute, trumpet, clarinet).
- Compared brain plasticity differences between piano and wind instrument expertise in the same subjects.
- Controlled for common and interactive effects of general music training.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct brain areas showing plasticity specific to piano training.
- Identified distinct brain areas showing plasticity specific to wind instrument training.
- Demonstrated that musical training leads to the development of high cognitive functions related to instrument-specific skills.
Conclusions:
- Musical instrument learning induces specific structural and functional brain changes.
- The type of instrument learned influences the pattern of brain plasticity.
- Instrument-specific training enhances unique cognitive abilities.
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