Researchers at the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California launched a five-year study in 2012 and have published preliminary findings in the journal Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience.
In an article posted in USC News (linked below), Emily Gersima quotes lead author Assal Habibi :
“Within two years of the study, the neuroscientists found the auditory systems of children in the music program were maturing faster in them than in the other children. The fine-tuning of their auditory pathway could accelerate their development of language and reading, as well as other abilities – a potential effect which the scientists are continuing to study.”