Train the brain with music: Brain Plasticity and cognitive benefits induced by musical practice in elderly people in Germany and Switzerland

最近的数据表明，音乐制作可能会防止老年人的认知能力下降。然而，实验证据仍然很少，而且没有提供关于神经生理学基础的信息，尽管认知能力下降是健康衰老的主要障碍。这项研究首次将老年人的协议音乐练习与尖端的神经成像相结合。我们提出了一项多地点汉诺威-日内瓦纵向随机干预研究，对100名退休健康老年人(-76岁，日内瓦40岁，汉诺威60岁)进行为期一年的钢琴教学或音乐史和音乐理论教学。受试者将在3个时间点接受认知、知觉和运动能力的测试，并通过广泛的功能和结构神经成像数据(磁共振成像，MRI)进行测试。我们期望高强度钢琴训练不仅对主观幸福感，而且对执行功能、工作记忆、噪声中的听力以及这些行为特征与大脑形态和功能可塑性的关系产生正向迁移效应。因此，我们可能第一次证明，音乐制作可以通过减少认知和知觉-运动衰退来激发重要的社会影响，这是由大脑的功能和结构可塑性支撑的。这个项目不仅汇集了音乐科学、神经学、心理学、老年学和(F)核磁共振数据分析方面的独特专业知识，而且多站点方法将增强统计能力，并允许对结果进行更广泛的概括。

Recent data suggest that music making might prevent cognitive decline in the elderly. However, experimental evidence remains sparse and no information on the neurophysiological basis has been provided, although cognitive decline is a major impediment to healthy aging. This study combines for the first time protocolled music practice in elderly with cutting-edge neuroimaging. We propose a multi-site Hannover-Geneva longitudinal randomized intervention study in altogether 100 retired healthy elderly (64-76) years, 40 Geneva, 60 Hannover), offering either piano instruction or instruction on music history and music theory for one year. Subjects will be tested at 3 time points on cognitive, perceptual and motor abilities as well as via wide-ranging functional and structural neuroimaging data (Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI). We expect positive transfer effects from intensive piano training not only on subjective well-being, but also on executive functions, working memory, hearing in noise and relationships of these behavioral features with morphological and functional brain plasticity. We may therefore for the first time demonstrate, that music making can provoke important societal impacts by diminishing cognitive and perceptual-motor decline underpinned by functional and structural brain plasticity. Not only does this project assemble a unique combination of expertise in music science, neurology, psychology, gerontology and (f)MRI data analyses, but moreover, the multisite approach will enhance statistical power and allow broader generalization of results.