LEARNING to play a musical instrument can protect the brain and ward off age-related decreases in mental health.
Researchers hope the finding could lead to older people being taught to play instruments to halt dementia related conditions.
The study found that learning to play a sound on a musical instrument alters the brain waves in a way that improves a person’s listening and hearing skills over a short time frame.
This change in brain activity demonstrates its ability to rewire itself and compensate for injuries or diseases that may hamper a person’s capacity to perform tasks.
Dr Bernard Ross of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto, Canada, said: “Music has been known to have beneficial effects on the brain, but there has been limited understanding into what about music makes a difference.
Musical sounds alter the brain activity which improves a person’s listening and hearing skills
Music has been known to have beneficial effects on the brain, but there has been limited understanding into what about music makes a difference.
“This is the first study demonstrating that learning the fine movement needed to reproduce a sound on an instrument changes the brain’s perception of sound in a way that is not seen when listening to music.“
This finding supports Dr Ross’ research using musical training to help stroke survivors rehabilitate motor movement in their upper bodies.
The latest study involved 32 young, healthy adults who had normal hearing and no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders.
The change in brain activity demonstrates its ability to rewire itself and compensate for diseases
Participant’s brain waves were first recorded while they listened to bell-like sounds from a Tibetan singing bowl.
After listening to the recording, half of the participants were given the Tibetan singing bowl and asked to recreate the same sounds and rhythm by striking it and the other half recreated the sound by pressing a key on a computer keypad.
Dr Ross said: “It has been hypothesized that the act of playing music requires many brain systems to work together, such as the hearing, motor and perception systems,.
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“This study was the first time we saw direct changes in the brain after one session, demonstrating that the action of creating music leads to a strong change in brain activity.”
The findings are published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
READ MORE: Surprising Benefits Of Playing An Instrument
