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Musicians are better at using sounds as spatial body anchors
Daniel Paromov1, Christel Azar1, Maxime Maheu2
1École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Brain Research
|June 16, 2026
Summary
Musicians demonstrate enhanced postural control when using auditory cues, suggesting musical training improves spatial abilities beyond music. This study highlights how sound aids body representation and balance in trained musicians.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Perception
- Motor Control
Background:
- Musicians exhibit superior multisensory integration, but its application beyond music is unclear.
- Enhanced use of environmental sounds for spatial body representation in musicians may improve postural control.
- Investigating the impact of auditory stimuli on postural control in musicians is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how sound stimuli affect postural control in musicians compared to non-musicians.
- To determine if musical training enhances the utilization of auditory cues for maintaining balance.
- To explore the neural mechanisms underlying sound-mediated postural adjustments.
Main Methods:
- Participants (musicians and non-musicians) performed a challenging postural task.
- Postural control was assessed with and without auditory input.
- Brain activity in specific frequency bands related to sensory processing and motor control was analyzed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in sway were found between groups without auditory input.
- Auditory cues improved postural control in both musicians and non-musicians.
- Musicians showed a significantly greater improvement in postural control with auditory cues compared to non-musicians.
- This enhancement in musicians correlated with reduced activity in neural pathways for anticipation and vestibular feedback.
Conclusions:
- Musicianship enhances postural control by leveraging auditory spatial information.
- Musical training positively influences spatial abilities and sensory integration beyond musical contexts.
- Auditory spatial anchors play a key role in the superior postural control observed in musicians.
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