title: Music enrichment programs improve the neural encoding of speech in at-risk children.
abstract: Musicians are often reported to have enhanced neurophysiological functions, especially in the auditory system. Musical training is thought to improve nervous system function by focusing attention on meaningful acoustic cues, and these improvements in auditory processing cascade to language and cognitive skills. Correlational studies have reported musician enhancements in a variety of populations across the life span. In light of these reports, educators are considering the potential for co-curricular music programs to provide auditory-cognitive enrichment to children during critical developmental years. To date, however, no studies have evaluated biological changes following participation in existing, successful music education programs. We used a randomized control design to investigate whether community music participation induces a tangible change in auditory processing. The community music training was a longstanding and successful program that provides free music instruction to children from underserved backgrounds who stand at high risk for learning and social problems. Children who completed 2 years of music training had a stronger neurophysiological distinction of stop consonants, a neural mechanism linked to reading and language skills. One year of training was insufficient to elicit changes in nervous system function; beyond 1 year, however, greater amounts of instrumental music training were associated with larger gains in neural processing. We therefore provide the first direct evidence that community music programs enhance the neural processing of speech in at-risk children, suggesting that active and repeated engagement with sound changes neural function.
authors.affiliation: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences, Neuroscience Program, and Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, and Department of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, and nkraus@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.affiliation: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences.
authors.forename: Elaine C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Data Sense LLC, Chicago, Illinois 60660.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hornickel
authors.affiliation: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Neuroscience Program, and.
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Strait
authors.affiliation: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences.
authors.forename: Trent
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nicol
authors.affiliation: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences.
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: White-Schwoch
mesh_terms: D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D011932:Reading; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: auditory brainstem; community enrichment; development; language; music; neuroplasticity