Long‐term musical training induces white matter plasticity in emotion and language networks

Abstract

Numerous studies have reported that long‐term musical training can affect brain functionality and induce structural alterations in the brain. Singing is a form of vocal musical expression with an unparalleled capacity for communicating emotion; however, there has been relatively little research on neuroplasticity at the network level in vocalists (i.e., noninstrumental musicians). Our objective in this study was to elucidate changes in the neural network architecture following long‐term training in the musical arts. We employed a framework based on graph theory to depict the connectivity and efficiency of structural networks in the brain, based on diffusion‐weighted images obtained from 35 vocalists, 27 pianists, and 33 nonmusicians. Our results revealed that musical training (both voice and piano) could enhance connectivity among emotion‐related regions of the brain, such as the amygdala. We also discovered that voice training reshaped the architecture of experience‐dependent networks, such as those involved in vocal motor control, sensory feedback, and language processing. It appears that vocal‐related changes in areas such as the insula, paracentral lobule, supramarginal gyrus, and putamen are associated with functional segregation, multisensory integration, and enhanced network interconnectivity. These results suggest that long‐term musical training can strengthen or prune white matter connectivity networks in an experience‐dependent manner.

Circuit structural plasticity by a neurotrophin with a Toll modifies behaviour

“…Conversely, loss of function for DNT-2, Toll-6 and kek-6 induced apoptosis, dopaminergic neuron loss, decreased dendritic complexity, impaired targeting, caused synapse loss and impaired locomotion. These phenotypes support previous findings that Toll-6 can promote cell survival and connectivity in development [50] [3] and that together with Kek-6 it promotes synaptogenesis at the larval NMJ [74]. Similarly, Toll-2 is also neuro-protective in the adult fly brain, and loss of Toll-2 function caused neurodegeneration and impaired behaviour [48].…”

“…Importantly, generative structural brain plasticity (e.g. adult neurogenesis, neuronal survival, neurite growth and synaptogenesis) correlates with anti-depressant treatment, learning, physical exercise and well-being [3, 4, 9, 13]. Conversely, structural homeostasis (e.g.…”

“…The brain can change throughout life, as new cells are formed or eliminated, axonal and dendritic arbours grow or shrink, synapses form or are eliminated. Such changes can be driven by experience, that is, neuronal activity or the lack of it [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Structural changes result in remodelling of connectivity patterns, and these bring about modifications of behaviour.…”

Music Engagement as a Source of Cognitive Reserve

“…77 These observations align with evidence reported by Rogenmoser et al 78 wherein the brain anatomies of amateur musicians resembled those of people considerably younger, indicating that music engagement may promote 'age-decelerating' effects. Structural brain changes also appear within white matter tracts, with young and middle-aged adult musicians typically possessing enlargement in the corpus callosum 79,80 and widespread differences in white matter organization across frontal, occipital and temporal regions as well as the corticospinal tract and cerebellum [81][82][83][84][85] Preliminary evidence suggests that some of these changes may persist into older age among musicians. 86 Increased functional activity has also been identified in older musicians, whereby enhanced functional activation has been observed in frontotemporal, sensorimotor and parietal networks.…”

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with music therapy in non‐fluent aphasia after stroke: A randomised controlled study

“…Another reason we applied low‐frequency rTMS to the right Broca mirror area is that Cheng et al. (2022) have suggested that long‐term singing is beneficial to the structural remodelling of the left hemisphere. As well, previous research has shown that singing mainly involves language processing, which is left‐lateralised (Knecht et al., 2000).…”