Category: Musical Brain

Research on neurobiology of music, effects of music on the brain.

Does Music Training Change the Brain?

A summary of several studies

Neuroscientists are pursuing studies of the effects of playing a musical instrument on the developing brain.

In an article published on the DANA Foundation website in 2009, Ben Mauk summarized an ongoing study conducted by Ellen Winner of Boston College and Gottfried Schlau of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Quoting from the article, “This is the first study to show brain plasticity in young children as a function of instrumental music instruction,” Schlaug said.

Other researchers have addressed the effects of music education on attention and intelligence.  Michael Posner of the University of Oregon found evidence supporting far transfer, or generalization of music training effects to other areas.

Music Training Changes Brain Networks

All About the Bass as Far as Rhythm is Concerned

Bass Makes us Move

Researchers at Western Sydney University are closing in on the neural underpinnings of our propensity to move to the rhythm of a beat.  In a study of brain activity and low and high pitched rhythms,  they found that subjects’ brain activities synchronize to the beat of sound at lower frequencies.

From the WSU article: New Research Suggests It’s All About the Bass, Emma Sandham, Senior Media Officer

Co-author of the paper, Dr Sylvie Nozaradan from the MARCS Institute, say these findings strongly suggest that the bass exploits a neurophysiological mechanism in the brain – essentially forcing it to lock onto the beat.

“There is mounting evidence supporting the hypothesis that selective synchronization of large pools of neurons of the brain to the beat frequency may support perception and movement to the musical beat”, says Dr Nozaradan.

Chargers’ Joe Barksdale uses Guitar as Therapy for Depression

Guitar Therapy

The quality of social interaction diminishes during depressive episodes. Barksdale credits his guitar playing with helping him deal with depression by becoming more social and connecting with other musicians.  He released an album, “Butterflies, Rainbows & Moonbeams”, in January, 2018.  Fender Guitars commissioned a survey study, “Illuminating the State of Today’s Guitar Players”, results presented here, with comments from Dr. Daniel Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music.  All in all, the article is an interesting read.

Guitar as Therapy for Depression

Music Training Influences Brain Development in Children

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.”

Children’s Brains Develop Faster with Musical Training

Musicians Have More Sensitive Brains – “Music Speaks”

Musicians found to have “more sensitive” brains 

In an intriguing series of studies,  Dr.Peter  Schneider of Heidelberg  University and colleagues are investigating individual differences in sound perception, absolute pitch, and morphology of the auditory cortex in  various conditions.  Abstracts can be found at researchgate.net.

According to this article in the Independent (UK), Dr. Schneider, et al. have found that musicians have “bigger, more sensitive brains.” More precisely, the auditory cortex of musicians was found to have more grey matter than that of nonmusicians;  sensitivity apparently refers to ability to detect small changes in melodies.  In an intriguing series of studies,  Dr. Schneider and colleagues are investigating individual differences in sound perception, absolute pitch, and morphology of the auditory cortex in  various conditions.

Interesting tidbit from the study: “Remarkably, the number of instruments played by subjects showed significant correlations with all language aptitude measures and musicality, whereas, the number of foreign languages did not show any correlations “.  The hotlink to the study is in the research section on this blog.

 

 

How Music Affects the Brain

Good article from Be Brain Fit blog by science writer Deane Alban.  Includes hot links to primary sources and studies.  From the article:

“What you’ll learn about how music affects the brain in this article: 

  • Why musicians have bigger, better brains
  • How music can improve your mood and reduce stress
  • How music makes you more creative and productive
  • The effects of musical training on young brains
  • How music therapy improves quality of life
  • Music playlists for brain enhancement”

How Music Affects the Brain

The Musical Brain

The brain is a universe in itself, the last frontier, and neuroscience is the astronomy of the brain.  Increasing public awareness of the exciting work going on in the field has resulted in words like “neuroplasticity” and “entrainment” floating around.

Now, Dr. Eric Chudler of the University of Washington has created a website entitled “Neuroscience for Kids”. I’m not sure how he’s defining “kids”, but I find it entertaining.  This site was awarded the Science Prize by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  Take a look.  Great site for parents and kids.

Neuroscience for Kids