First Evidence That Musical Training Affects Brain Development In Young Children

McMaster student Andrea Unrau has her mind read by a sensor net that monitors brain activity while music is played in the lab. (Photo by Jason Jones)

"Science Daily — Researchers have found the first evidence that young children who take music lessons show different brain development and improved memory over the course of a year compared to children who do not receive musical training.

The Canadian-based researchers reached these conclusions after measuring changes in brain responses to sounds in children aged between four and six.

Analysis of the music tasks showed greater improvement over the year in melody, harmony and rhythm processing in the children studying music compared to those not studying music. General memory capacity also improved more in the children studying music than in those not studying music."

Read the full article here! Science Daily, Oxford University Press