Fast Brain Plasticity during Word Learning in Musically-Trained Children

Abstract

Children learn new words every day and this ability requires auditory perception, phoneme discrimination, attention, associative learning and semantic memory. Based on previous results showing that some of these functions are enhanced by music training, we investigated learning of novel words through picture-word associations in musically-trained and control children (8–12 year-old) to determine whether music training would positively influence word learning. Results showed that musically-trained children outperformed controls in a learning paradigm that included picture-sound matching and semantic associations. Moreover, the differences between unexpected and expected learned words, as reflected by the N200 and N400 effects, were larger in children with music training compared to controls after only 3 min of learning the meaning of novel words. In line with previous results in adults, these findings clearly demonstrate a correlation between music training and better word learning. It is argued that these benefits reflect both bottom-up and top-down influences. The present learning paradigm might provide a useful dynamic diagnostic tool to determine which perceptive and cognitive functions are impaired in children with learning difficulties.

Auditory associative word learning in adults: the effects of musical experience and stimulus ordering

“…This suggestion is supported by experiments in which two auditory elements were sequentially linked, and in which similar positivities were found (e.g., Friederici et al, 2011; Mandikal Vasuki et al, 2017). Thus, the present results are consistent with previous findings in musicians evidencing enhanced auditory processing and memory (Chan et al, 1998; Cohen et al, 2011; George & Coch, 2011; Ho et al, 2003; Paraskevopoulos et al, 2017), and the transfer of musical expertise to language processing (Dittinger et al, 2016, 2017, 2019; Pesnot Lerousseau & Schön, 2021; Schön & Francois, 2011).…”

Auditory associative word learning in adults: the effects of musical experience and stimulus ordering

“…This suggestion is supported by experiments in which two auditory elements were sequentially linked, and in which similar positivities were found (e.g., Friederici et al, 2011; Mandikal Vasuki et al, 2017). Thus, the present results are consistent with previous findings in musicians evidencing enhanced auditory processing and memory (Chan et al, 1998; Cohen et al, 2011; George & Coch, 2011; Ho et al, 2003; Paraskevopoulos et al, 2017), and the transfer of musical expertise to language processing (Dittinger et al, 2016, 2017, 2019; Pesnot Lerousseau & Schön, 2021; Schön & Francois, 2011).…”

Enhanced neural and behavioural processing of a nonnative phonemic contrast in professional musicians

“…In addition, these results suggest that increased auditory sensitivity may be one of the driving forces behind enhanced phonemic perception in musicians. They are in line with previous work showing that musical expertise facilitates the perception and pronunciation of foreign linguistic sounds (Delogu, Lampis, & Belardinelli, ; Gottfried, ; Kühnis et al., ; Milovanov, Pietilä, Tervaniemi, & Esquef, ; Sadakata & Sekiyama, ; Slevc & Miyake, ) and possibly the learning of foreign languages (Chobert & Besson, ; Dittinger, Chobert, Ziegler, & Besson, ; Dittinger et al., ). Taken together, these results have potentially strong societal implications for education because fine perception of nonnative phoneme is an important first step in foreign language learning.…”

Music training with Démos program positively influences cognitive functions in children from low socio-economic backgrounds

“…Thus, while most children developed a better sense of rhythm, 18 months of music training were possibly not long enough to develop a “musical ear” for melody in most children. These results are in line with results from children of the middle class [42] showing that the melodic task is typically more difficult than the rhythmic task.…”

Auditory associative word learning in adults: the effects of musical experience and stimulus ordering

“…This suggestion is supported by experiments in which two auditory elements were sequentially linked, and in which similar positivities were found (e.g., Friederici et al, 2011; Mandikal Vasuki et al, 2017). Thus, the present results are consistent with previous findings in musicians evidencing enhanced auditory processing and memory (Chan et al, 1998; Cohen et al, 2011; George & Coch, 2011; Ho et al, 2003; Paraskevopoulos et al, 2017), and the transfer of musical expertise to language processing (Dittinger et al, 2016, 2017, 2019; Pesnot Lerousseau & Schön, 2021; Schön & Francois, 2011).…”

Enhanced neural and behavioural processing of a nonnative phonemic contrast in professional musicians

“…In addition, these results suggest that increased auditory sensitivity may be one of the driving forces behind enhanced phonemic perception in musicians. They are in line with previous work showing that musical expertise facilitates the perception and pronunciation of foreign linguistic sounds (Delogu, Lampis, & Belardinelli, ; Gottfried, ; Kühnis et al., ; Milovanov, Pietilä, Tervaniemi, & Esquef, ; Sadakata & Sekiyama, ; Slevc & Miyake, ) and possibly the learning of foreign languages (Chobert & Besson, ; Dittinger, Chobert, Ziegler, & Besson, ; Dittinger et al., ). Taken together, these results have potentially strong societal implications for education because fine perception of nonnative phoneme is an important first step in foreign language learning.…”

Music training with Démos program positively influences cognitive functions in children from low socio-economic backgrounds

“…Thus, while most children developed a better sense of rhythm, 18 months of music training were possibly not long enough to develop a “musical ear” for melody in most children. These results are in line with results from children of the middle class [42] showing that the melodic task is typically more difficult than the rhythmic task.…”

Auditory associative word learning in adults: the effects of musical experience and stimulus ordering

“…This suggestion is supported by experiments in which two auditory elements were sequentially linked, and in which similar positivities were found (e.g., Friederici et al, 2011; Mandikal Vasuki et al, 2017). Thus, the present results are consistent with previous findings in musicians evidencing enhanced auditory processing and memory (Chan et al, 1998; Cohen et al, 2011; George & Coch, 2011; Ho et al, 2003; Paraskevopoulos et al, 2017), and the transfer of musical expertise to language processing (Dittinger et al, 2016, 2017, 2019; Pesnot Lerousseau & Schön, 2021; Schön & Francois, 2011).…”

Enhanced neural and behavioural processing of a nonnative phonemic contrast in professional musicians

“…In addition, these results suggest that increased auditory sensitivity may be one of the driving forces behind enhanced phonemic perception in musicians. They are in line with previous work showing that musical expertise facilitates the perception and pronunciation of foreign linguistic sounds (Delogu, Lampis, & Belardinelli, ; Gottfried, ; Kühnis et al., ; Milovanov, Pietilä, Tervaniemi, & Esquef, ; Sadakata & Sekiyama, ; Slevc & Miyake, ) and possibly the learning of foreign languages (Chobert & Besson, ; Dittinger, Chobert, Ziegler, & Besson, ; Dittinger et al., ). Taken together, these results have potentially strong societal implications for education because fine perception of nonnative phoneme is an important first step in foreign language learning.…”

Music training with Démos program positively influences cognitive functions in children from low socio-economic backgrounds

“…Thus, while most children developed a better sense of rhythm, 18 months of music training were possibly not long enough to develop a “musical ear” for melody in most children. These results are in line with results from children of the middle class [42] showing that the melodic task is typically more difficult than the rhythmic task.…”