A specialized inhibitory function sharpens somatosensory hand representation and enhances the production and perception of fast multifinger movements in pianists

Abstract

Accurate control of fast movements of multiple body parts characterizes experts' skills, such as playing musical instruments. While performing these movements, the somatosensory system is challenged to successively and in parallel process a large amount of somatosensory information originating from different body parts in a short period. Here, we show that pianists possess a unique inhibitory function that isolates the somatosensory processing of different fingers in the somatosensory cortex. Weak electrical stimulation to the ulnar nerve successfully augmented this inhibitory function, which also improved both the perception and production of fast and complex multifinger sequential movements in pianists. In nonmusicians, neither the inhibitory effects on the somatosensory process nor the perception of multifinger movements was enhanced by this stimulation. Together, these findings provide the first evidence of the experience-dependent plasticity of inhibition of the somatosensory system, which underlies the fine control of fast and complex multifinger movements in expert pianists.

Pipe Organ Design Including the Passive Haptic Feedback Technology and Measurement Analysis of Key Displacement, Pressure Force and Sound Organ Pipe

“…Linear potentiometers and force-sensitive resistors are used to measure and detect the finger position and pressure exerted by a musician while playing an instrument [29]. The relationship between the key depression force on an upright piano and the level of loudness of a generated tone is examined in [30] using a force transducer built-in key. To investigate, characterize, and quantify the mechanical impedance characteristics that contribute to the feel of musical keyboard keys, special test rigs are developed, including mechanical design and computer control, in [31,32].…”