Eur J Neurosci. 2021 Aug 2. doi: 10.1111/ejn.15407. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
To relate individual differences in music perception ability with whole brain white matter connectivity, we scanned a group of twenty-seven individuals with varying degrees of musical training and assessed musical ability in sensory and sequential music perception domains using the Profile of Music Perception Skills-Short version (PROMS-S). Sequential processing ability was estimated by combining performance on tasks for Melody, Standard Rhythm, Embedded Rhythm, and Accent sub-scores while sensory processing ability was ascertained via tasks of Tempo, Pitch, Timbre and Tuning. Controlling for musical training, gender and years of training, Network Based Statistics revealed positive linear associations between total PROMS-S scores and increased inter-hemispheric fronto-temporal and parieto-frontal white matter connectivity, suggesting a distinct segregated structural network for music perception. Secondary analysis revealed two sub-networks for sequential processing ability, one comprising of ventral fronto-temporal and sub-cortical regions and the other comprising dorsal fronto-temporo-parietal regions. A graph-theoretic analysis to characterize the structural network revealed a positive association of modularity of the whole brain structural connectome with the d` total score. In addition, the nodal degree of the right posterior cingulate cortex also showed a significant positive correlation with the total d`score. Our results suggest that a distinct structural network of connectivity across fronto-temporal, cerebellar and cerebro-subcortical regions is associated with music processing abilities and the right posterior cingulate cortex mediates the connectivity of this network.
PMID:34340255 | DOI:10.1111/ejn.15407
