(A)musicality in Williams syndrome: examining relationships among auditory perception, musical skill, and emotional responsiveness to music

Abstract

Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder, is of keen interest to music cognition researchers because of its characteristic auditory sensitivities and emotional responsiveness to music. However, actual musical perception and production abilities are more variable. We examined musicality in WS through the lens of amusia and explored how their musical perception abilities related to their auditory sensitivities, musical production skills, and emotional responsiveness to music. In our sample of 73 adolescents and adults with WS, 11% met criteria for amusia, which is higher than the 4% prevalence rate reported in the typically developing (TD) population. Amusia was not related to auditory sensitivities but was related to musical training. Performance on the amusia measure strongly predicted musical skill but not emotional responsiveness to music, which was better predicted by general auditory sensitivities. This study represents the first time amusia has been examined in a population with a known neurodevelopmental genetic disorder with a range of cognitive abilities. Results have implications for the relationships across different levels of auditory processing, musical skill development, and emotional responsiveness to music, as well as the understanding of gene-brain-behavior relationships in individuals with WS and TD individuals with and without amusia.

Developmental trajectories of pitch-related music skills in children with Williams syndrome

“…Mean scores for each group are shown in As previously mentioned (see section 1.4. Studies of musical pitch in Williams syndrome), the prevalence rate of amusia in individuals with WS is higher than that in the TD population (Lense et al, 2013). As shown in Figure 2, in this study no participant with WS performed at floor.…”

“…Interestingly, a moderate association between performance on the music test and cognitive level was observed. More importantly, Lense et al (2013) found a higher rate of amusia in WS compared with typical development. Yet, the neural correlates of amusia are similar in both populations (Lense, Dankner, Pryweller, Thornton-Wells, & Dykens, 2014).…”

“…In the general population, this disorder is described as a deficit for the processing of musical pitch that cannot be accounted for by brain damage or cognitive impairment (Ayotte, Peretz, & Hyde, 2002). Lense, Shivers, & Dykens (2013) administered to individuals with WS (10-51 years) a diagnostic tool of amusia that assesses the ability to identify pitch anomalies in melodies. Interestingly, a moderate association between performance on the music test and cognitive level was observed.…”

“…In addition, atypical mechanisms may subserve music processing in WS (Deruelle et al, 2005;Elsabbagh et al, 2010). Furthermore, amusia seems to be particularly prevalent in WS (Lense et al, 2013). In spite of the accumulated evidence, Development of pitch-related music skills in WS 11 the idea that individuals with WS have enhanced music skills still persists (e.g., McPherson & Hallam, 2009).…”

“…Although, to our knowledge, no prior research has reported atypical development of music skills in WS, previous studies have found other atypicalities in the musical phenotype of the syndrome. Even though individuals with WS do not have enhanced music skills (Lense et al, 2013;Martínez-Castilla & Sotillo, 2008), they show greater musicality. That is, in comparison with TD individuals or those with other neurodevelopmental disorders, individuals with WS present heightened interest and emotional responsivity to music, as reported by parents and evidenced by electroencephalogram and electrodermal activity (Hopyan et al, 2001;Järvinen et al, 2015;Lense, Gordon, Key, & Dykens, 2014;Levitin et al, 2004).…”