Behind the scene: cognitive benefits of playing a musical instrument. Executive functions, processing speed, fluid intelligence and divided attention / Detrás de la escena: beneficios cognitivos de tocar un instrumento musical. Funciones ejecutivas, velocidad de procesamiento, inteligencia fluida y atención dividida

Abstract

The relationship between music training and cognitive performance has been much explored over the last decades. A variety of evidence shows a different neurological and cognitive processing in the population who have undergone instrumental music training compared to people who have not. A review of the literature shows the many advantages in cognitive skills musicians have gained from musical training, such as benefits to their executive functions and other aspects of cognition, in children as well as adults and the elderly. This study investigates in greater depth certain cognitive aspects associated with musical training in the adult population. Specifically, it explores its relationship with inhibition, working memory (verbal and visual-spatial), flexibility, processing speed, fluid intelligence and divided attention. Our results suggest that there is indeed a relationship between musical training and improvements in cognitive performance, both in executive functions and in other areas of cognition.

Music as a Tool for Promoting Environmental Awareness. Experiences of Undergraduate Education Students on the Production of Video Tales in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The importance and relevance of music education in general public schools is defended by multiple authors [5][6][7][8][9]. There are many publications that attribute many developmental benefits to music-cognitive, psychomotor, and socio-emotional [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. However, recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews argue that empirical evidence for the improvement of cognitive and academic skills from music training is rather limited [18][19][20][21][22].…”