Canny Minds Blog

Playing a musical instrument makes you brainier

Posted on 28. Oct, 2009 by Jenny in Brain Training, Children, General

New research suggests that regularly playing an instrument changes the shape and power of the brain and may be used in therapy to improve cognitive skills.

It can even increase IQ by seven points in both children and adults, according to researchers.
Experts said there is growing evidence that musicians have structurally and functionally different brains compared with non-musicians – in particular, the areas of the brain used in processing and playing music.

These parts of the brain that control motor skills, hearing, storing audio information and memory become larger and more active when a person learns how to play an instrument and can apparently improve day to day actions such as being alert, planning and emotional perception
The full research is published in the online publication Faculty of 1000 Biology Reports.

Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent, Daily Telegraph

October 28 2009 

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Tags: 19-29, All, Learn Something New, Music