title: Musical training induces functional plasticity in perceptual and motor networks: insights from resting-state FMRI.
abstract: A number of previous studies have examined music-related plasticity in terms of multi-sensory and motor integration but little is known about the functional and effective connectivity patterns of spontaneous intrinsic activity in these systems during the resting state in musicians. Using functional connectivity and Granger causal analysis, functional and effective connectivity among the motor and multi-sensory (visual, auditory and somatosensory) cortices were evaluated using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in musicians and non-musicians. The results revealed that functional connectivity was significantly increased in the motor and multi-sensory cortices of musicians. Moreover, the Granger causality results demonstrated a significant increase outflow-inflow degree in the auditory cortex with the strongest causal outflow pattern of effective connectivity being found in musicians. These resting state fMRI findings indicate enhanced functional integration among the lower-level perceptual and motor networks in musicians, and may reflect functional consolidation (plasticity) resulting from long-term musical training, involving both multi-sensory and motor functional integration.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Zhi-wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yong-xiu
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kendrick
authors.forename: De-zhong
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009146:Music; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology