Effects of Lifelong Musicianship on White Matter Integrity and Cognitive Brain Reserve

Overview

Journal Brain Sci

Publisher MDPI

Date 2021 Jan 9

PMID 33419228

Citations 13

Authors

Edna Andrews

Cyrus Eierud

David Banks

Todd Harshbarger

Andrew Michael

Charlotte Rammell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

There is a significant body of research that has identified specific, high-end cognitive demand activities and lifestyles that may play a role in building cognitive brain reserve, including volume changes in gray matter and white matter, increased structural connectivity, and enhanced categorical perception. While normal aging produces trends of decreasing white matter (WM) integrity, research on cognitive brain reserve suggests that complex sensory-motor activities across the life span may slow down or reverse these trends. Previous research has focused on structural and functional changes to the human brain caused by training and experience in both linguistic (especially bilingualism) and musical domains. The current research uses diffusion tensor imaging to examine the integrity of subcortical white matter fiber tracts in lifelong musicians. Our analysis, using Tortoise and ICBM-81, reveals higher fractional anisotropy, an indicator of greater WM integrity, in aging musicians in bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculi and bilateral uncinate fasciculi. Statistical methods used include Fisher's method and linear regression analysis. Another unique aspect of this study is the accompanying behavioral performance data for each participant. This is one of the first studies to look specifically at musicianship across the life span and its impact on bilateral WM integrity in aging.

Citing Articles

Short communication: Lifetime musical activity and resting-state functional connectivity in cognitive networks.

Liebscher M, DellOrco A, Doll-Lee J, Buerger K, Dechent P, Ewers M PLoS One. 2024; 19(5):e0299939.

PMID: 38696395 PMC: 11065262. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299939.

Resting-state functional connectivity in lifelong musicians.

Eierud C, Michael A, Banks D, Andrews E Psychoradiology. 2024; 3:kkad003.

PMID: 38666119 PMC: 10917383. DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkad003.

Long-term training alters response dynamics in the aging auditory cortex.

Mittelstadt J, Shilling-Scrivo K, Kanold P Hear Res. 2024; 444:108965.

PMID: 38364511 PMC: 11186583. DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.108965.

Music Engagement as a Source of Cognitive Reserve.

Wolff L, Quan Y, Perry G, Thompson W Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2023; 38:15333175231214833.

PMID: 37993973 PMC: 10666690. DOI: 10.1177/15333175231214833.

Musical experience prior to traumatic exposure as a resilience factor: a conceptual analysis.

Fraile E, Gagnepain P, Eustache F, Groussard M, Platel H Front Psychol. 2023; 14:1220489.

PMID: 37599747 PMC: 10436084. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1220489.

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