Neuroplasticity of Multisensory Cortical Areas Induced by Musical Training: a Translational Approach (MusicPlast)

Summary

Exploiting recent methodological advancements, several neuroimaging studies suggested that multisensory integration emerges from a dynamic interplay of distributed regions operating in large-scale networks. Nonetheless, the cortical structures and neuronal networks underlying the development of multisensory perception and plasticity, throughout the life span, have not yet been studied in detail. A special case of multisensory training is musical training, which utilizes stimulus' structural complexity, as well as the emotional drive that music is generating to the subjects, in order to induce augmented neuroplastic effects.

Retaining the extensive neuroplastic characteristics of music training, MUSICPLAST will develop, investigate and deliver a computer provided multisensory training protocol that aims to induce neuroplastic changes in frontotemporal cortical areas. More specifically, the goal of the proposed project is threefold: (a) The in-depth understanding and modeling of the developmental trajectory of the cortical networks underlying multisensory perception, (b) the modeling of the developmental trajectory of the cortical networks underlying multisensory plasticity throughout the life span of healthy subjects; and (c) the translation of this model in a computer provided multisensory training intervention protocol, which will cause beneficial neuroplastic changes in pathological populations. Electroencephalographic, behavioral and neuropsychological measurements, and advanced data analysis procedures, pre- and post the training application are going to be employed in order to evaluate the resulting neuroplasticity holistically. The proposed protocol will also be translated into an applied intervention for 2 groups of pathological population, for which there are strong evidence that a multisensory cognitive training based on music may provide beneficial neuroplastic changes: elderlies suffering from mild cognitive Impairment and adolescents with dyslexia.

The project is performed in the Laboratory of Medical Physics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It takes advantage of the extensive background of the laboratory in music and neuroscience, in multisensory perception and in applications that translate basic neuroscientific knowledge into computer based interventions for young adults and elderlies, building up a solid neuroscientific ground on which multidisciplinary characteristics of the project stand.

Conditions

• Dyslexia
• Aging Problems

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

MusicPlast

Each subject will receive 20 sessions of the computerized training based on a simplified music reading protocol. The training will be provided via a smartphone or a tablet. Each training session will last for 20 minutes and the log file will be directly available to the researcher, allowing him/her to follow subject's timely participation. The stimuli used in the training protocol will consist of a visual image showing a circle on top of a background of 5 horizontal lines. The auditory part of the stimulus will consist of piano melodies of known songs. The position of the circle within the five lines will either follow the rule "the higher the pitch of the tone, the higher the position of the circle" or it will violate the above rule. The task requires audiovisual integration.

BEHAVIORAL

MusicPlast Control

Each subject will receive 20 sessions of the computerized training within a period of 4 weeks, aiming to train visual search via spot-the-difference tasks and identification of dissonance in music. Auditory and visual stimuli are concurrently presented, but do not require audiovisual integration.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Evangelos Paraskevopoulos, PhD · Research Associate

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

100 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-08-02

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2024-12-31

Countries

• Greece

Study Locations