Dondena Chiara, Riva Valentina, Molteni Massimo, Musacchia Gabriella, Cantiani Chiara
Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, 23842 Lecco, Italy.
Department of Audiology, School of Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockon, CA 95211, USA.
Brain Sci. 2021 Nov 21;11(11):1546. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11111546.
Previous evidence has shown that early auditory processing impacts later linguistic development, and targeted training implemented at early ages can enhance auditory processing skills, with better expected language development outcomes. This study focuses on typically developing infants and aims to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of music training based on active synchronization with complex musical rhythms on the linguistic outcomes and electrophysiological functioning underlying auditory processing. Fifteen infants participated in the training (RTr+) and were compared with two groups of infants not attending any structured activities during the same time frame (RTr-, N = 14). At pre- and post-training, expressive and receptive language skills were assessed using standardized tests, and auditory processing skills were characterized through an electrophysiological non-speech multi-feature paradigm. Results reveal that RTr+ infants showed significantly broader improvement in both expressive and receptive pre-language skills. Moreover, at post-training, they presented an electrophysiological pattern characterized by shorter latency of two peaks (N2* and P2), reflecting a neural change detection process: these shifts in latency go beyond those seen due to maturation alone. These results provide preliminary evidence on the efficacy of our training in improving early linguistic competences, and in modifying the neural underpinnings of auditory processing in infants.
先前的证据表明，早期听觉处理会影响后期的语言发展，早期实施的针对性训练可以提高听觉处理技能，并带来更好的预期语言发展结果。本研究聚焦于发育正常的婴儿，旨在测试基于与复杂音乐节奏主动同步的音乐训练对语言结果以及听觉处理背后的电生理功能的可行性和初步效果。15名婴儿参与了训练（RTr+组），并与同期未参加任何结构化活动的两组婴儿（RTr-组，N = 14）进行比较。在训练前后，使用标准化测试评估表达性和接受性语言技能，并通过电生理非言语多特征范式来表征听觉处理技能。结果显示，RTr+组婴儿在表达性和接受性语言前技能方面均有显著更广泛的改善。此外，在训练后，他们呈现出一种电生理模式，其特征是两个峰值（N2*和P2）的潜伏期更短，这反映了一种神经变化检测过程：这些潜伏期的变化超出了仅由成熟引起的变化。这些结果为我们的训练在提高早期语言能力以及改变婴儿听觉处理的神经基础方面的效果提供了初步证据。
