Large-scale multi-site study shows no association between musical training and early auditory neural sound encoding

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Auditory Neuroscience
• Music Cognition

Background:

• Previous smaller studies suggested musical training enhances neural processing of sounds, measured by the frequency following response (FFR).
• This implied potential for subcortical neural plasticity in humans due to musical engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate and extend findings on the association between musical training and auditory neural processing.
• To investigate the relationship between musical training (duration, onset age) and neural encoding of speech sounds.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale, multi-site, preregistered study with over 260 participants.
• Measured neural encoding strength of speech stimuli (/da/ in babble) using spectral and temporal FFR representations.
• Assessed neural tracking of dynamic pitch trajectories in speech sounds.

Main Results:

• Failed to replicate major findings from previous smaller studies.
• No association found between musical training and enhanced neural encoding strength of speech stimuli.
• Neural tracking of speech sounds was not related to years of musical training or age of onset.

Conclusions:

• The study provides no evidence for associations between early auditory neural responses and musical training or ability.
• Challenges previous assumptions about music-induced subcortical neural plasticity.
• Highlights the need for replication in large-scale studies to confirm initial findings.