Imagine you want to play an instrument, like the melodica! But what if I told you that in just 10 weeks of training, it could potentially improve your brainpower? This study explores the effects of short-term musical instrument training on cognitive function in healthy older adults. Previous studies have shown that longer training periods can improve memory, processing speed, and executive function. However, this study aimed to determine if similar effects could be achieved in just 10 weeks. The results revealed that the short-term melodica training had positive effects on verbal fluency and working memory. Interestingly, the control group also showed improvements on certain tests due to practice effects. The findings suggest that shorter intervals between pre- and post-intervention assessments may have masked some of the intervention effects. To truly capture the full benefits, a longer interval between tests may be necessary. Excitingly, this study opens up new avenues for research on how brief musical instrument training can positively impact cognitive function in older adults. So why not pick up that melodica and see what it can do for your brain?

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown that musical instrument training programs of 16 or more weeks improve verbal memory (Logical Memory Test delayed recall), processing speed (Digit Symbol Coding Test), and executive function (Trail Making Test Part B) of musically untrained healthy older adults. However, it is unclear whether shorter-period instrument training can yield similar effects. We sought to (1) verify those results and (2) clarify if intervention effects could be detected using other measures such as reaction time.MethodsHealthy older adults (mean age = 73.28 years) were pseudo-randomly assigned to an untrained control group (n = 30) or an intervention group (n = 30) that received a weekly 10-session musical instrument training program (using melodica). We conducted neuropsychological tests on which intervention effects or association with musical training were reported in previous studies. We newly included two reaction time tasks to assess verbal working memory (Sternberg task) and rhythm entrainment (timing task). Intervention effects were determined using a “group × time” analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThe intervention effects were detected on the reaction time in Sternberg task and phonological verbal fluency. Although intervention effects had been reported on Logical Memory test, Digit Symbol Coding Test and Trail Making Test in previous studies with longer training periods, the present study did not show such effects. Instead, the test-retest practice effect, indicated by significant improvement in the control group, was significant on these tests.DiscussionThe present results indicated the usefulness of working memory assessments (Verbal Fluency Test and Sternberg task) in detecting the effects of short-term melodica training in healthy older adults. The practice effect detected on those three tasks may be due to the shorter interval between pre- and post-intervention assessments and may have obscured intervention effects. Additionally, the findings suggested the requirement for an extended interval between pre- and post-tests to capture rigorous intervention effects, although this should be justified by a manipulation of training period.

Read Full Article (External Site)