Short-Term Perceptual Training of Music and Its Effect on Neural Encoding

Abstract

Introduction: Speech and music exhibits similar acoustic and structural properties and even its perception recruit shared computational systems. However, short term music perceptual training and its effect on neural encoding at cortical and sub cortical structures of brain still remains unanswered. Aim and objective: To investigate the short-term perceptual musical training and its influence on encoding of speech and music evoked auditory responses for frequency following response and long latency response. Methodology and Analysis: Pre and post perceptual musical training was recorded for harmonics of frequency following response and long latency response (LLR) for speech stimuli /da/ and music stimuli played through violin for 20 participants in the age range of 18-25 years. Results: The results reveal that there was no significant difference for the harmonic of frequency following response where as significant difference was observed for the P2 and N2 latency and N2 amplitude of LLR. Conclusion: The short-term perceptual musical training had an impact on plasticity which was evident at the cortical level preceding the changes at the sub-cortical level. There is a clear clinical implication that the plasticity of the organism can be strengthened which would fine tune the neural process not only for the music perception but also for speech and language remediations.