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Music Makes You Smarter
Regularly playing a musical instrument
changes the anatomy and function of the brain and may be used
in therapy to improve cognitive skills.
There is growing evidence that musicians
have structurally and functionally different brains compared
with non-musicians. In particular, the areas of the brain used
to process music are larger or more active in musicians. Even
just starting to learn a musical instrument can changes the
neurophysiology of the brain.
Lutz Jäncke, a member of Faculty of
1000 Medicine, proposes using music in neuropsychological
therapy, for example to improve language skills, memory, or
mood. In a review for Faculty of 1000 Biology Reports, an
online publication in which leading researchers highlight
advances in their field, Jäncke summarizes recent studies
of professional musicians.
The brain regions involved in music
processing are also required for other tasks, such as memory or
language skills. “If music has such a strong influence on
brain plasticity,” writes Jäncke, “this raises
the question of whether this effect can be used to enhance
cognitive performance.”
Several studies indeed show that musical
practice increases memory and language skills, and Jäncke
suggests expanding this field: “Hopefully, the current
trend in the use of musicians as a model for brain plasticity
will continue ... and extend to the field of neuropsychological
rehabilitation.”
Lutz Jäncke is a Member of Faculty of
1000 Medicine, and professor of Neuropsychology at ETH
Zürich http://f1000medicine.com/member/1598438481844157
Subscribers can view the full text of the
article “Music drives brain plasticity” at http:
//f1000biology.com/reports/10.3410/B1-78/