Abstract
From an early age, musicians learn complex motor and auditory skills
(e.g., the translation of visually perceived musical symbols into
motor commands with simultaneous auditory monitoring of output),
which they practice extensively from childhood throughout their entire
careers. Using a voxel-by-voxel morphometric technique, we found
gray matter volume differences in motor, auditory, and visual-spatial
brain regions when comparing professional musicians (keyboard players)
with a matched group of amateur musicians and non-musicians. Although
some of these multiregional differences could be attributable to
innate predisposition, we believe they may represent structural adaptations
in response to long-term skill acquisition and the repetitive rehearsal
of those skills. This hypothesis is supported by the strong association
we found between structural differences, musician status, and practice
intensity, as well as the wealth of supporting animal data showing
structural changes in response to long-term motor training. However,
only future experiments can determine the relative contribution of
predisposition and practice.
- adolescent,adult,brain,brain
- anatomy
- histology,brain:
- imaging,male,motor
- mapping,brain:
- physiology,humans,magnetic
- physiology,music,music,musicality,neuro
- resonance
- skills,motor
- skills:
- \&
Users
Please
log in to take part in the discussion (add own reviews or comments).