Study Shows Learning Tasks with Music Can Change Brain Structure
By MedImaging International staff writers Posted on 19 Jul 2017 |
Researchers have shown that people who practiced basic movement tasks while listening to music showed increased structural connectivity in white matter pathways in parts of the brain.
The researchers found that those brain regions associated with sound and control movement processing had improved structural connections as a result of the therapy.
The findings were published online in the August 2017 issue of the journal Brain & Cognition by researchers from the University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland) and could be used for research into motor rehabilitation of patients with a disability, after a stroke for example.
The study included 30 right-handed volunteers. They were split into two groups and were asked to learn a new physical task involving sequences of finger movements, with their left non-dominant hand. One group learned the task without music, while the second group learned it with musical cues. The researchers found that both groups learned the sequences equally well after 4 weeks of practice.
The researchers then used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to scan the volunteers’ brains. The scans showed that there was a significant increase in white-matter connectivity in the group working with music as opposed to the group working without music that showed no change.
Research team leader Dr. Katie Overy, said, "The study suggests that music makes a key difference. We have long known that music encourages people to move. This study provides the first experimental evidence that adding musical cues to learning new motor task can lead to changes in white matter structure in the brain."
Related Links:
University of Edinburgh
The researchers found that those brain regions associated with sound and control movement processing had improved structural connections as a result of the therapy.
The findings were published online in the August 2017 issue of the journal Brain & Cognition by researchers from the University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland) and could be used for research into motor rehabilitation of patients with a disability, after a stroke for example.
The study included 30 right-handed volunteers. They were split into two groups and were asked to learn a new physical task involving sequences of finger movements, with their left non-dominant hand. One group learned the task without music, while the second group learned it with musical cues. The researchers found that both groups learned the sequences equally well after 4 weeks of practice.
The researchers then used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to scan the volunteers’ brains. The scans showed that there was a significant increase in white-matter connectivity in the group working with music as opposed to the group working without music that showed no change.
Research team leader Dr. Katie Overy, said, "The study suggests that music makes a key difference. We have long known that music encourages people to move. This study provides the first experimental evidence that adding musical cues to learning new motor task can lead to changes in white matter structure in the brain."
Related Links:
University of Edinburgh
Latest MRI News
- World's First Sensor Detects Errors in MRI Scans Using Laser Light and Gas
- Diamond Dust Could Offer New Contrast Agent Option for Future MRI Scans
- Combining MRI with PSA Testing Improves Clinical Outcomes for Prostate Cancer Patients
- PET/MRI Improves Diagnostic Accuracy for Prostate Cancer Patients
- Next Generation MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Ushers In Future of Incisionless Neurosurgery
- Two-Part MRI Scan Detects Prostate Cancer More Quickly without Compromising Diagnostic Quality
- World’s Most Powerful MRI Machine Images Living Brain with Unrivaled Clarity
- New Whole-Body Imaging Technology Makes It Possible to View Inflammation on MRI Scan
- Combining Prostate MRI with Blood Test Can Avoid Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies
- New Treatment Combines MRI and Ultrasound to Control Prostate Cancer without Serious Side Effects
- MRI Improves Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer
- Combined PET-MRI Scan Improves Treatment for Early Breast Cancer Patients
- 4D MRI Could Improve Clinical Assessment of Heart Blood Flow Abnormalities
- MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Prostate Cancer
- AI-Based MRI Tool Outperforms Current Brain Tumor Diagnosis Methods
- DW-MRI Lights up Small Ovarian Lesions like Light Bulbs