On the Association Between Musical Training, Intelligence and Executive Functions in Adulthood

Abstract

Converging evidence has demonstrated that musical training is associated with improved perceptual and cognitive skills, including executive functions and general intelligence, particularly in childhood. In contrast, in adults the relationship between cognitive performance and musicianship is less clear and seems to be modulated by a number of background factors, such as personality and socio-economic status. Aiming to shed new light on this topic, we administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-III), the Wechsler Memory Scale III (WMS-III), and the Stroop Test to 101 Finnish healthy adults grouped according to their musical expertise (non-musicians, amateurs, and musicians). After being matched for socio-economic status, personality traits and other demographic variables, adult musicians exhibited higher cognitive performance than non-musicians in all the mentioned measures. Moreover, linear regression models showed significant positive relationships between executive functions (working memory and attention) and the duration of musical practice, even after controlling for intelligence and background variables, such as personality traits. Hence, our study offers further support for the association between cognitive abilities and musical training, even in adulthood. HIGHLIGHTS - Musicians show higher general intelligence (FSIQ), verbal intelligence (VIQ), working memory (WMI) and attention skills than non-musicians. Amateurs score in between. - Significant positive correlations between years of musical playing and cognitive abilities support the hypothesis that long-term musical practice is associated with intelligence and executive functions.

Do Musicians Have Better Mnemonic and Executive Performance Than Actors? Influence of Regular Musical or Theater Practice in Adults and in the Elderly

“…In older adults, this pattern seems to be confirmed for musicians, with higher performances on long-term visual-spatial memory, working memory, processing speed and verbal fluency (Hanna-Pladdy and MacKay, 2011;Hanna-Pladdy and Gajewski, 2012;Amer et al, 2013;Fauvel et al, 2014;Mansens et al, 2018;Criscuolo et al, 2019;Ferreri et al, 2019). The EEG study of Moussard et al (2016) on elderly musicians (currently practicing about 11 h/week) and non-musicians, confirmed a beneficial effect of musical practice on executive control, and highlighted a more anterior distribution of the P3 wave in musicians, suggesting successful functional reorganization in elderly musicians according to the authors.…”

“…Musical practice also influences cognitive functioning, involving better performance on tasks that directly call upon skills explicitly learned during formal music learning ( near transfers ) but also with an effect on general cognitive functions ( far transfers) in musicians ( Fauvel et al, 2013 ; Schellenberg and Weiss, 2013 ; Schlaug, 2015 ). Studies reported better performance for musicians compared to non-musicians mainly in executive functioning, notably working memory, flexibility and verbal fluency ( Degé et al, 2011 ; Criscuolo et al, 2019 ).…”

Putting Cells in Motion: Advantages of Endogenous Boosting of BDNF Production

“…For instance, after several months of learning to play a musical instrument, children have shown several improved cognitive functions [ 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 ], such as working memory (especially auditory), inhibitory control, and spatial and logical intelligence. Moreover, professional musicians seem to have higher intelligence quotient (IQ) scores than controls, when all other variables are matched, and in a positive correlation with years of training [ 154 ].…”

Development and Psychometric Validation of the Music Receptivity Scale

“…Musical training is another important factor that would be a strong predictor of music receptivity. It has been reported that musical training is associated with perceptual and cognitive skills, including executive functions and general intelligence ( Criscuolo et al, 2019 ). We can anticipate higher musical training or musical inclination to be associated with higher music receptivity.…”