Music Training May Reduce Examination Stress

From a study by Laohawattanakun J, Chearskul S, Dumrongphol H, Jutapakdeegul N, Yensukjai J, Khumphan N, Niltiean S, Thangnipon W: Several pieces of evidence suggest that academic examinations fulfill the classical requirement of a psychological stressor. Academic examinations represent a Read More …

Learning to Play a Musical Instrument Increases Motor Skills After Stroke

From a study by Schneider S, Schönle PW, Altenmüller E, and Münte TF: In previous studies, it was shown that there is a need for efficient motor rehabilitation approaches. For this purpose, we evaluated a music-supported training program designed to Read More …

Our Brains Process Language and Music in the Same Way

From a study by Miranda RA and Ullman MT Neuroimage. 2007 Nov 1;38(2):331-45. (Online version not yet available): Language and music share a number of characteristics. Crucially, both domains depend on both rules and memorized representations. Double dissociations between the Read More …

It’s Never Too Late to Benefit from Music Lessons

From a study by Bugos JA, Perlstein WM, McCrae CS, Brophy TS, and Bedenbaugh PH : This study evaluates transfer from domain-specific, sensorimotor training to cognitive abilities associated with executive function. We examined Individualized Piano Instruction (IPI) as a potential Read More …

Practicing Music Reorganizes the Brain

From a study by Riia Milovanova, Mari Tervaniemic, Fiia Takiob, and Heikki Hämäläinenb: (pdf file) To increase our understanding of the phonemic processing skills of musical and nonmusical subjects, the Dichotic Listening task was performed in children and adults with Read More …

Musicians Have Greater Cortical Thickness

From a study by Patrick Bermudez, Jason P. Lerch, Alan C. Evans, Robert J. Zatorre: Subject groups were 53 non-musicians and 53 musicians (10 years or more of musical experience, 21 with absolute pitch). T1 MR images were RF inhomogeneity Read More …

Musical Training Activates the Brain

From a study by P. Bermudez & R.J. Zatorre: An fMRI study was conducted to test the hypothesis that Absolute Pitch (AP), the ability to identify the names of musical pitches without reference to a standard, involves, in part, the Read More …

Musicians Have A Thicker Cerebral Cortex

From a study by Patrick Bermudez, Jason P. Lerch, Alan C. Evans and Robert J. Zatorre: We used a multimethod approach to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of musicianship and absolute pitch (AP). Cortical thickness measures, interregional correlations applied to these Read More …