In adolescents, prior music training was associated with faster test completion times but no executive function performance differences¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2022 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Finnish adolescent case-control studies found no improvement in inhibitory control or WM measurements, but significantly faster completion times in music-trained groups. → Rodriguez-Gomez DA and Talero-Gutiérrez C 2022

Evidence¶

Rodriguez-Gomez DA and Talero-Gutiérrez C 2022¶

Rodriguez-Gomez DA and Talero-Gutiérrez C (2022) Effects of music training in executive function performance in children: A systematic review. Front. Psychol. 13:968144. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.968144

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review reports two Finnish adolescent case-control studies (Saarikivi et al., 2016; Putkinen et al., 2021): no significant EF differences, but "the completion time for the tests was significantly faster in the music-trained groups."

"the studies by Putniken and Saarkivi failed to identify any improvement in inhibitory control measurements among those with prior music training. Nevertheless, the completion time for the tests was significantly faster in the music-trained groups"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Music training RCTs show improved verbal working memory (backward digit span), but not visuospatial or forward-span tasks
• Only one identified study found improved visuospatial working memory after music training
• The review concludes music training has a beneficial effect on core executive function performance, primarily in inhibitory control and to a lesser extent in working memory and cognitive flexibility — related
• Music training is associated with improved inhibitory control in children, though the largest studies found no executive function differences — related
• Music training effects on fluency are largely null, with one case-control study reporting improved verbal fluency — related