Do musicians have different brains?

Full Abstract

The search for anatomical correlates of special skills dates from the end of the 19th century, when post-mortem brains of gifted individuals, including musicians, were examined for clues as to origins of their prized abilities. Modern neuroimaging techniques provide the chance to interrogate the brains of living musicians. Structural and functional specialisations have been demonstrated across several sensory, motor and higher order association areas. These specialisations are often instrument- or effector-specific and correlate with aspects of the training history supporting the view that they are the result, rather than the cause, of skill acquisition. Musicians constitute a model, par excellence, for studying the role of experience in sculpting brain processes. A key challenge for the future will be to develop theoretical frameworks within which musicians and other occupationally specialised groups can be studied in order to investigate the nature, scope and limits of neuroplasticity.

Author information

Author/s: Stewart, Lauren (L);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London. l.stewart(-atsign-)gold.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Clinical medicine (London, England) (Clin Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 8 (issue 3) : pp 304-8

Dates: Created 2008/07/15; Completed 2008/10/28;

PMID: 18624043, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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