Effects of Music Training on Neurodevelopment and Associated Health Outcomes

项目摘要 虽然越来越多的证据表明音乐训练有益于大脑发育，但证据并不确凿，需要经过严格设计的随机对照试验(RCT)神经成像研究来确定音乐训练是否增强了大脑回路，以及如何增强大脑回路。我们的目标是解决这一差距：我们提出了一项随机对照试验，以有力地检验这一假设，即系统的音乐训练将有助于来自服务不足社区的西班牙裔青年大脑抑制控制电路的发展。之前的工作，包括我们的工作，提供了提示证据，表明儿童长期的音乐训练可能会导致相关额叶大脑回路的神经可塑性功能变化，并改善抑制控制。 在R61阶段，我们将在40名6-8岁的拉美裔儿童中测试RCT的可行性(招募、保留、坚持和继续意图)，其中24个月的干预试验将分配到针对社区和团体的课后音乐培训(MG)，或参加一个包括艺术、读书俱乐部、种族和文化研究在内的课后计划，而不是特别关注系统的音乐培训，对照组(CG)。我们将使用多模式成像和行为探测器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；(2)使用计算机化任务的延迟满足感，其中儿童将被要求选择立即或延迟的金钱奖励。进行两次神经影像检查，干预前和干预后2年。行为测量将在基线时获得，此后每年进行。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相同的测试时间表，使用相同的成像和行为测量对他们进行评估。这是第一次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电路的随机对照试验。通过关注来自服务不足社区的西班牙裔儿童，我们的结果将阐明音乐训练对大脑功能发展的影响。音乐训练引起的早期生命脑-行为变化可能会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.