Geneva Neuroscience Center, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Cereb Cortex. 2013 Sep;23(9):2213-24. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhs206. Epub 2012 Jul 24.
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we show for the first time that levels of musical expertise stepwise modulate higher order brain functioning. This suggests that degree of training intensity drives such cerebral plasticity. Participants (non-musicians, amateurs, and expert musicians) listened to a comprehensive set of specifically composed string quartets with hierarchically manipulated endings. In particular, we implemented 2 irregularities at musical closure that differed in salience but were both within the tonality of the piece (in-key). Behavioral sensitivity scores (d') of both transgressions perfectly separated participants according to their level of musical expertise. By contrasting brain responses to harmonic transgressions against regular endings, functional brain imaging data showed compelling evidence for stepwise modulation of brain responses by both violation strength and expertise level in a fronto-temporal network hosting universal functions of working memory and attention. Additional independent testing evidenced an advantage in visual working memory for the professionals, which could be predicted by musical training intensity. The here introduced findings of brain plasticity demonstrate the progressive impact of musical training on cognitive brain functions that may manifest well beyond the field of music processing.
使用功能磁共振成像，我们首次表明音乐专业水平逐级调节大脑的高级功能。这表明训练强度会影响大脑的可塑性。参与者（非音乐家、业余爱好者和专业音乐家）聆听了一整套具有层次化结尾的特定创作弦乐四重奏。特别是，我们在音乐结束时实施了 2 种不规则性，它们在突出性上有所不同，但都在作品的调性（调性内）内。这两种违规行为的行为敏感性得分（d'）根据参与者的音乐专业水平完美地将他们区分开来。通过对比大脑对和声违规与规则结尾的反应，功能脑成像数据有力地证明了在一个包含工作记忆和注意力的普遍功能的额颞网络中，违反强度和专业水平对大脑反应进行逐步调节。额外的独立测试证明了专业人士在视觉工作记忆方面的优势，这可以通过音乐训练强度来预测。这里介绍的大脑可塑性研究结果表明，音乐训练对认知大脑功能的渐进影响可能远远超出音乐处理领域。
