Effects of Music Training on Neurodevelopment and Associated Health Outcomes

项目摘要 虽然有越来越多的证据表明音乐训练有益于大脑发育，但这些证据并不是决定性的，需要严格设计的随机对照试验（RCT）神经影像学研究来提供音乐训练是否以及如何增强大脑回路的明确答案。我们的目标是解决这一差距：我们提出了一个随机对照试验，以有力地测试的假设，系统的音乐训练将有利于发展的大脑抑制控制电路之间的西班牙裔青年服务不足的社区。先前的工作，包括我们的工作，提供了提示性的证据表明，儿童长期的音乐训练可能会导致相关的额叶脑回路的神经可塑性功能的变化和抑制控制的改善。 在R61阶段，我们将测试可行性（招募，保留，坚持和打算继续）对40名6-8岁的西班牙裔儿童进行RCT，其中将被分配到一个为期24个月的干预试验，针对社区和团体为重点的课后音乐培训（MG）或课后计划，包括艺术，读书俱乐部，民族文化研究没有具体重点的系统音乐训练，对照组（CG）。我们将使用多模态成像和行为探针来测量抑制控制的两个方面：（1）使用停止信号任务的反应抑制和（2）使用计算机化任务的延迟满足，其中儿童将被要求选择立即与延迟的金钱奖励。将在2年干预前后进行两次神经影像学测量。将在基线时和此后每年获得行为指标。在R33阶段，我们将额外招募74名6-8岁的西班牙裔儿童，并使用与R61相同的测试时间轴，通过相同的成像和行为测量对他们进行评估。这是第一个使用神经成像来评估音乐训练是否以及如何增强大脑抑制控制回路的随机对照试验。通过关注来自服务不足社区的西班牙裔儿童，我们的研究结果将揭示音乐训练对大脑功能发育的影响。音乐训练引起的早期大脑行为变化可能对个人的健康和成功产生长期的积极影响。

Project Summary While there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that music training benefits brain development, the evidence is not conclusive and rigorously designed randomized control trial (RCT) neuroimaging studies are needed to provide a definitive answer to whether and which brain circuits are enhanced by music training and how. We aim to address this gap: we propose an RCT to robustly test the hypothesis that systematic music training will benefit development of brain inhibition control circuitry among Hispanic youth from underserved communities. Prior work including ours provided suggestive evidence that long-term music training in children may lead to neuroplastic functional changes in the associated frontal brain circuitry and improvement of inhibitory control. During the R61 phase, we will test the feasibility (recruitment, retention, adherence and intent to continue) of a RCT on 40 Hispanic children between ages 6-8, of whom will be assigned to a 24-month intervention trial targeting community and group-focused after school music training (MG) or to an after-school program comprising arts, book clubs, ethnic and culture studies without specific focus on systematic music training, the control group (CG). We will use multi-modal imaging and behavioral probes to measure two aspects of inhibition control: (1) response inhibition by using a stop-signal task and (2) delayed gratification using a computerized task wherein children will be asked to choose immediate vs. delayed monetary rewards. Neuroimaging measures will be obtained twice, pre and post 2-yr intervention. Behavioral measures will be obtained at baseline and yearly thereafter. During the R33 phase, we will additionally recruit 74 Hispanic children between ages 6-8 and assess them with the same imaging and behavioral measurements using the same testing timeline as in R61. This is the first RCT using neuroimaging to assess whether and how music training enhances brain inhibition control circuitry. By focusing on Hispanic children from underserved communities our results will shed light on the effects of music training on development of brain function. And early life brain-to-behavior changes induced by music training may have long-term positive effects on an individual's health and success.