Early Music Training Promotes Lasting Brain Boost, Study Finds

Sharon Moore November 11, 2013

A large body of scientific research suggests that music has many benefits to mental health. Now, a new study provides additional evidence to this, revealing that children who had music lessons experience brain boost that last through adulthood.

The new study, carried out in the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University in Illinois, US, involved 44 people in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Subjects listened to a synthesised speech syllable, "da" whilst the researchers tracked their electrical activity in brain areas responsible for processing sound information, known as the auditory brainstem. Even though none of the participants have played any musical instrument for nearly 40 years, those who had music training early in life had faster response to the speech sound than those who had never been taught music.

Lasting benefits

Hearing problems are common among older adults. It’s because as the brain ages, it undergoes several changes that often lead to cognitive problems. For instance, brains of older adults may develop slower response to fast-changing sounds.

According to the researchers, there could be two possible reasons for the lasting benefits of music training to the auditory brainstem. One is that learning an instrument during childhood causes a fixed change in the brain that is retained throughout life. Or, it could be that music classes somehow prepare the brain for future auditory learning. They also believe that musical training, with emphasis on rhythmic skills, can exercise the auditory-system.

This study echoes previous researches suggesting that younger adults who had music training during childhood were better listeners. But because most of these studies are small-scale, scientists cannot fully ascertain if it is indeed musical training that is causing the effect.

Nevertheless, the plethora of studies affirming the positive benefits of music to both the physical and mental health provides a good reason for parents to encourage their children to learn music. Although it is quite expensive as compared to other hobbies, musical training may have rewarding, priceless benefits.

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Childhood music lessons ’leave lasting brain boost’