Individual differences in rhythm perception modulate music-related motor learning: A neurobehavioral training study with children

Resumen

Rhythm and motor function are intrinsically linked to each other and to music, but the motor- rhythm interplay during music training, and the corresponding brain mechanisms, are underexplored. In a longitudinal training study with children, we inspected the role of rhythm skills in the fine motor improvements arising from music training, and which brain regions were implicated. Fifty-seven 8-year-olds were assigned to a 6-month music training (n = 21), or sports training (n = 18), or a control group (n = 18). They performed motor and rhythm tasks, and underwent structural brain scans before and after training. Better ability to perceive rhythm before training was associated with less gray matter volume in regions of the cerebellum, fusiform gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, ventral diencephalon, inferior/middle temporal gyri, superior frontal gyrus, and motor area. Motor performance improved with music training, greater improvements with better pre-training rhythm discrimination. Music training induced a loss of gray matter volume in the left cerebellum and fusiform gyrus, and volume loss correlated with greater motor gains. No such effects were found in the sports and control groups. So, children with fine-tuned rhythm perception were more prone to fine motor improvements through music training, and this motor- rhythm link was handled by the left cerebellum and fusiform gyrus. These findings have implications for models on plasticity and music/rhythm cognition, and for programs targeting motor function.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

Martins, M., Reis, A. M., Gaser, C., & Castro, S. L. (2023). Individual differences in rhythm perception modulate music-related motor learning: A neurobehavioral training study with children. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48132-2