Music lessons and intelligence: executive functions as possible mediators

在过去的几年里，研究人员证明了音乐课和各种特定认知能力之间的几个具体联系。如此大量的特定联系使得Schellenberg（2004,2006）得出结论，即一个领域的一般认知能力受到音乐课的影响，并解释了所有特定的联系。事实上，谢伦伯格（2004）表明音乐课能提高智商。然而，这种联系的本质仍然不清楚：音乐课是直接影响智商，还是由另一种认知能力介导的间接影响？潜在的中介是执行功能。然而，最近的相关研究揭示了有争议的结果。因此，当前项目的最终目标是调查执行功能在音乐课对智商的影响中的作用。有两个问题需要澄清。首先，应该调查音乐课对智商的影响是否由5- 7岁儿童的执行功能介导的问题。因此，需要证明音乐课增强了执行功能，这种增强解释了音乐课对智商的影响。为了确切地回答这个问题，将进行两个实验。实验设计将解决因果关系问题。第二个实验将探讨音乐课对执行功能的不同影响。因此，5到6岁的孩子将接受音乐节目的训练，重点是节奏活动或唱歌。这样，就有可能比较不同的音乐活动对执行功能的影响。

In the last years researchers demonstrated several specific links between music lessons and various specific cognitive abilities. This huge amount of specific links led Schellenberg (2004,2006) to the conclusion that a domain general cognitive ability is influenced by music lessons and explains all the specific links. Indeed Schellenberg (2004) showed that music lessons enhance IQ. However, the nature of this association remains unclear: Do music lessons directly influence IQ or is it an indirect influence that is mediated by another cognitive ability? Potential mediators are executive functions. However, recent correlational studies revealed controversial results. Therefore, the ultimate goal of the current project is to investigate the role of executive functions for the influence of music lessons on IQ. Two questions should be clarified. First, the question whether the influence of music lessons on IQ is mediated by executive functions in a sample of 5- to 7-year-old children should be investigated. Therefore, it needs to be shown that music lessons enhance executive functions and that this enhancement explains the influence of music lessons on IQ. To answer this question firmly two experiments will be conducted. An experimental design will solve the matter of causation. With the second experiment differential effects of music lessons on executive functions will be investigated. Hence, 5- to 6-year-old children will be trained with music programs that focus either on rhythmic activities or singing. Thus, it will be possible to compare the effects different musical activities might have on executive functions.