Results from a new study provide more evidence of the link between verbal and musical abilities. Children who had low scores on reading comprehension tests also had less activity in the regions of the brain where music is processed.
The findings were published in the Behavioral and Brain Functions journal. The study was undertaken at the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University. The reading and musical abilities were examined in 42 children. The study also tested the children’s neural sensitivity to music, random sound and speech.
Dr. Nina Kraus, the laboratory’s principal investigator, said that the correlations between the reading scores and rhythm portions of the test were very close underscoring the importance of rhythmic regularity in language as well as the importance of musical training in improving children’s language skills.
The connection between music and language and cognitive development will be an important topic at the Brain Power Conference, Toronto, May 3-4. Come learn how neuroscience is leading to a revolution in childhood development and education.
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