Also make sure to check out the infographic I created on the subject at:
https://infogr.am/music_and_brain_function_in_children
https://infogr.am/music_and_brain_function_in_children
Below are three articles I annotated related to music and brain function in children:
krausetal_harmony_jneuro2014.pdf |
contentserver.asp.pdf |
jocn_2e2006_2e18_2e2_2e199.pdf |
Annotated Bibliography:
- Kraus, N., J. Slater, E. C. Thompson, J. Hornickel, D. L. Strait, T. Nicol, and Thite- Schwoch."Music Enrichment Programs Improve the Neural Encoding of Speech in At-Risk Children." Journal of Neuroscience 34.36 (2014): 11913-1918. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
The authors, researchers and professors from Northwestern University use data generated from their randomized control design to investigate their hypothesis that community music programs enhance the neural processing of speech in at risk children, which would also imply that active and repeated engagement with sound changes neural function. They find their hypothesis to be true with only slight enhancements in neural function in at risk children after one year but after that first year the neural enhancements were multiplied greatly and improvement in neural processing is shown to be increased.
- Magne, C., Schön, D., & Besson, M. (2006). Musician Children Detect Pitch Violations in Both Music and Language Better than Nonmusician Children: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Approaches. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 199-211.
The researchers from MIT examine the distinctions between ability in children who practice and receive music training opposed to those children who do not and how this might influence their ability to distinguish between tones. This has potential applications if true, to crossover into linguistics and show that musical training can and does have an effect on children’s verbal ability.
- Ho, Y., Cheung, M., & Chan, A. (n.d.). Music training improves verbal but not visual memory: Cross-sectional and longitudinal explorations in children. Neuropsychology, 439-450.
The researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong examines the effect that music training can have on improvements in verbal memory opposed to visual memory. This study is of significance because it attempts to reveal the distinction between the areas of the brain activated and actually improved through musical training and the change in thought process that can occur.
- Collins, A. (Director). (2014). How playing an instrument benefits your brain. [YouTube]
In an informative and intriguing video Ms. Collins explains the benefits that playing an instrument causes in terms of cognitive function as well as learning. She also explains how this development can result in a crossover of skill that can also be shown to increase ability in other areas other than music (linguistics/memory).