Neuroscience News: New Links Found Between Musical Training and Cognitive Ability
“Musical training influences visual working memory, researchers discovered. The study found regions of the brain may share a common component that influences both visual and musical working memory.”
“One crucial component of all cognitive faculties is working memory, that is, the ability to hold information in one’s memory and make use of it without external aids, such as pen and paper.”
“In their study, the scientists examined a total of 148 people. By means of six different tests, they compared the research subjects’ musical and visual working memories with their level of musical training.”
“The results show that if musical training influences visual working memory, then it does so via the “detour” of musical working memory. In other words, by way of its primary benefits for musical working memory, musical training could have a positive effect on visual working memory as well.”
“The study further showed that, conversely, a generally strong working memory may make musical training easier. “
“The research team’s findings suggest that regions of the brain share a common component that influences both visual and musical working memory.”
Read the full article here.
#Music #Cognition #MentalHealth
My Take:
I suppose you could say that I wasn’t entirely surprised to learn that there might be a link between musical ability/aptitude and cognition. I feel like, just anecdotally speaking, a lot of the brightest people that I have met in my life have been musicians or otherwise musically talented. And while I do realize that correlation doesn’t necessarily equal causation, I feel as though this study did show something substantial.
And while I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a musician, between singing, mixing music for bands, and my ability/enjoyment of being able to listen to music exclusively (as in, nothing else in the background), I can almost feel like I’m exercising certain parts of my brain when I engage in the hobby.
And as a question for you all:
How has music, or being involved with music on any level, affected you all in your lives?
@sereneSunset26 I am someone who doesn't have any musical talent whatsoever 😂 I can't sing and I don't play any instruments, but I do enjoy listening to music! It has helped me through some dark times and has brought me joy! I think there is music out there for everyone and something to listen to for every mood we may be feeling!
@fruityPond7887
I hear you on that. I guess I'm somewhat decent at singing, if that counts? Lol.
But yeah, I think there is something about music that can automatically access our emotions and affect us on a pretty deep level. It's definitely done wonders for me over the course of my life.
@sereneSunset26 That's awesome! Do you sing in front of people or is it something that you keep to yourself?
I agree too! There are some songs that I listen to and they bring me back to the moment when I first discovered them or needed them the most. It's incredible the way our brain recognizes and associates emotions with music.
@fruityPond7887
So I have...indeed sung in front of people before. Mainly karaoke, but still. Lol.
And I'm with you there. There are certain songs that, for better and worse, I have identified with those certain people in my life. And...because I have (or my brain did), those songs are forever changed for me now.