Enhanced Cortical Connectivity in Absolute Pitch Musicians: A Model for Local Hyperconnectivity

Loui, Psyche; Li, H. Charles; Hohmann, Anja; Schlaug, Gottfried

doi:10.1162/jocn.2010.21500

Cited by 121 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 77 publications

(108 reference statements)

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“…AP ability is the extreme of musical expertise, and therefore due to the exceptionally enhanced acoustical awareness and brain connectivity may benefit language skills even more than ordinary musical expertise (cf., Loui, Li, Hohmann, & Schlaug, 2011). AP might be especially relevant for studies that used tonal languages, such as Mandarin Chinese, and tone identification tasks; but, since the discussed articles did not explicitly study this possibility, the role of AP in tone identification remains inconclusive (Lee & Hung, 2008).…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential Role of Music in Second Language Learning: A Review Article

Zeromskaite¹

2014

Journal of European Psychology Students

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The effects of musical activities on non-musical domains have recently sparked much research. Whereas the benefits of music for native language abilities are well established, the effect on second language (L2) is not yet fully explored. This review discusses articles suggesting the transfer effect of music on L2 phonological and reading skills. Through the analysis of research literature, it examines; (1) the extent of transfer to specific L2 skills, the nature of necessary music training, the effect of native language on musicality and L2, and the role of working memory in the transfer effect. While the discussed papers provide promising insights into the music-L2 relationship, due to the little research done in this area it is difficult to generalize the results to overall L2 learning.

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Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential Role of Music in Second Language Learning: A Review Article

Zeromskaite¹

2014

Journal of European Psychology Students

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“…This measure is referred to as degree or degree centrality and is the sum of weights incident upon a node (i.e., the sum of weights of the edges that a node has). According to the findings of Loui et al (2011), who demonstrated hyperconnectivity mainly in the temporal lobe in AP musicians on the basis of DTI data, we hypothesized that AP musicians should demonstrate a stronger connectedness in terms of higher degree measures especially in perisylvian brain areas and especially in brain areas involved in auditory analyses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enables identification of specific features in the fiber tracts of musicians. This innovative technique has been used to show that musicians demonstrate differences in various fiber tracts when compared with nonmusicians (Halwani, Loui, Ruber, & Schlaug, 2011;Loui, Li, Hohmann, & Schlaug, 2011;Bengtsson et al, 2005;Schmithorst & Wilke, 2002). These anatomical differences are often interpreted as evidence of training-induced and experiencedependent adaptations because the musicians (especially classical musicians, i.e., the most studied musician group) start to practice early in life and continue to do so throughout their lives Jäncke, 2009;Bengtsson et al, 2005;Munte, Altenmuller, & Jäncke, 2002;Schlaug, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diminished Whole-brain but Enhanced Peri-sylvian Connectivity in Absolute Pitch Musicians

Jäncke

Langer

Hänggi

2012

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

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Several anatomical studies have identified specific anatomical features within the peri-sylvian brain system of absolute pitch (AP) musicians. In this study we used graph theoretical analysis of cortical thickness covariations (as indirect indicator of connectivity) to examine whether AP musicians differ from relative pitch musicians and nonmusicians in small-world network characteristics. We measured "local connectedness" (local clustering = ), "global efficiency of information transfer" (path length = ), "small-worldness" ( = /), and "degree" centrality as measures of connectivity. Although all groups demonstrated typical small-world features, AP musicians showed significant small-world alterations. "Degree" as a measure of interconnectedness was globally significantly decreased in AP musicians. These differences let us suggest that AP musicians demonstrate diminished neural integration (less connections) among distant brain regions. In addition, AP musicians demonstrated significantly increased local connectivity in peri-sylvian language areas of which the planum temporale, planum polare, Heschl's gyrus, lateral aspect of the superior temporal gyrus, STS, pars triangularis, and pars opercularis were hub regions. All of these brain areas are known to be involved in higher-order auditory processing, working or semantic memory processes. Taken together, whereas AP musicians demonstrate decreased global interconnectedness, the local connectedness in peri-sylvian brain areas is significantly higher than for relative pitch musicians and nonmusicians. ical features within the peri-sylvian brain system of absolute pitch (AP) musicians. In this study we used graph theoretical analysis of cortical thickness covariations (as indirect indicator of connectivity) to examine whether AP musicians differ from relative pitch musicians and nonmusicians in small-world network characteristics. We measured "local connectedness" (local clustering = γ), "global efficiency of information transfer" (path length = λ), "small-worldness" (σ = γ/λ), and "degree" centrality as measures of connectivity. Although all groups demonstrated typical small-world features, AP musicians showed significant small-world alterations. "Degree" as a measure of interconnectedness was globally significantly decreased in AP musicians. These differences let us suggest that AP musicians demonstrate diminished neural integration (less connections) among distant brain regions. In addition, AP musicians demonstrated significantly increased local connectivity in peri-sylvian language areas of which the planum temporale, planum polare, Heschlʼs gyrus, lateral aspect of the superior temporal gyrus, STS, pars triangularis, and pars opercularis were hub regions. All of these brain areas are known to be involved in higherorder auditory processing, working or semantic memory processes. Taken together, whereas AP musicians demonstrate decreased global interconnectedness, the local connectedness in perisylvian brain areas is significantly higher than for relativ...

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“…In this context, AP participants were shown to exhibit altered neurophysiological responses during early stages of auditory processing (Matsuda et al, 2013;Schulze, Gaab, & Schlaug, 2009;Wu, Kirk, Hamm, & Lim, 2008;Itoh, Suwazono, Arao, Miyazaki, & Nakada, 2005;Ohnishi et al, 2001;Hirata, Kuriki, & Pantev, 1999). In addition, there is some evidence pointing to a differential structural architecture in the brain networks of AP participants involved in the early stage of auditory processing (Wengenroth et al, 2013;Jäncke, Langer, & Hänggi, 2012;Loui, Zamm, & Schlaug, 2012;Loui, Li, Hohmann, & Schlaug, 2011;Oechslin, Imfeld, Loenneker, Meyer, & Jäncke, 2010;Bermudez, Lerch, Evans, & Zatorre, 2009;Wilson, Lusher, Wan, Dudgeon, & Reutens, 2009;Luders, Gaser, Jancke, & Schlaug, 2004;Keenan, Thangaraj, Halpern, & Schlaug, 2001;Schlaug, 2001;Schlaug, Jancke, Huang, & Steinmetz, 1995). Nevertheless, to date it is still a matter of debate whether the specificity of the first processing stage is restricted to AP participants only.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Absolute Pitch: Evidence for Early Cognitive Facilitation during Passive Listening as Revealed by Reduced P3a Amplitudes

Rogenmoser

Elmer

Jäncke

2015

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

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Absolute pitch (AP) is the rare ability to identify or produce different pitches without using reference tones. At least two sequential processing stages are assumed to contribute to this phenomenon. The first recruits a pitch memory mechanism at an early stage of auditory processing, whereas the second is driven more by a later cognitive mechanism (pitch labeling). Several investigations have used active tasks, but it is unclear how these two mechanisms contribute to AP during passive listening. The present work investigated the temporal dynamics of tone processing in AP and non-AP (NAP)participants, using EEG. We applied a passive oddball paradigm with between-and within-tone category manipulations and analyzed the MMN reflecting the early stage of auditory processing and, for the first time, the P3a response reflecting the later cognitive mechanism during the second processing stage. Results did not reveal between-group differences in MMN waveforms. But, the P3a response was specifically associated with AP and sensitive to processing different pitch types. Specifically, AP participants exhibited smaller P3a amplitudes, especially in between-tone category conditions, and P3a responses correlated significantly with the age of commencement of musical training, suggesting an influence of early musical exposure on AP. Our results reinforce the current opinion that the representation of pitches at the processing level of the auditory-related cortex is similar among AP and NAP participants, whereas the later processing stage is critical for AP. Results are interpreted as reflecting cognitive facilitation in AP participants, possibly driven by the availability of multiple codes for tones. Abstract ■ Absolute pitch (AP) is the rare ability to identify or produce different pitches without using reference tones. At least two sequential processing stages are assumed to contribute to this phenomenon. The first recruits a pitch memory mechanism at an early stage of auditory processing, whereas the second is driven by a later cognitive mechanism (pitch labeling). Several investigations have used active tasks, but it is unclear how these two mechanisms contribute to AP during passive listening. The present work investigated the temporal dynamics of tone processing in AP and non-AP (NAP) participants by using EEG. We applied a passive oddball paradigm with between-and withintone category manipulations and analyzed the MMN reflecting the early stage of auditory processing and the P3a response reflecting the later cognitive mechanism during the second processing stage. Results did not reveal between-group differences in MMN waveforms. By contrast, the P3a response was specifically associated with AP and sensitive to the processing of different pitch types. Specifically, AP participants exhibited smaller P3a amplitudes, especially in between-tone category conditions, and P3a responses correlated significantly with the age of commencement of musical training, suggesting an influence of early musical exposure on AP. Our ...

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Enhanced Cortical Connectivity in Absolute Pitch Musicians: A Model for Local Hyperconnectivity

Cited by 121 publications

References 77 publications

The Potential Role of Music in Second Language Learning: A Review Article

The Potential Role of Music in Second Language Learning: A Review Article

Diminished Whole-brain but Enhanced Peri-sylvian Connectivity in Absolute Pitch Musicians

Absolute Pitch: Evidence for Early Cognitive Facilitation during Passive Listening as Revealed by Reduced P3a Amplitudes

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