Music training is associated with improved inhibitory control in children, though the largest studies found no executive function differences¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 3 studies · 3 review r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2022 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Six of nine studies on preschoolers identified a significant improvement in inhibitory control after music training. → Rodriguez-Gomez DA and Talero-Gutiérrez C 2022 q2 i? Six of twelve studies in school-age children observed significantly improved performance in inhibition tasks. → Rodriguez-Gomez DA and Talero-Gutiérrez C 2022 (2) q2 i? The largest study (2,914 children, El Sistema Venezuela) failed to identify a significant difference in executive function testing between music and control groups. → Rodriguez-Gomez DA and Talero-Gutiérrez C 2022 (3)

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

Narrative synthesis of nine preschool studies using Stroop, Go/No-Go, and NEPSY inhibition or statue subtests, with music education primarily non-instrumental rhythm or pitch training. The review reports that "Six of nine studies on preschoolers identified a significant improvement in inhibitory control."

"Six of nine studies on preschoolers identified a significant improvement in inhibitory control."

Rodriguez-Gomez DA and Talero-Gutiérrez C 2022 (2)¶

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

Narrative synthesis of twelve school-age studies, five case-control with prior instrumental learning, three instrument-based programs, and four orchestra-based interventions. The review reports that "Six studies observed significantly improved performance in inhibition tasks" across Go/No-Go, Stroop, Simon, and NEPSY tests.

"Six studies observed significantly improved performance in inhibition tasks using the Go/No-Go, Stroop, Simon, and the NEPSY tests"

Rodriguez-Gomez DA and Talero-Gutiérrez C 2022 (3)¶

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 the Alemán et al. (2017) randomized trial of El Sistema in Venezuela: 2,914 children, music group n = 1,480, control n = 1,434. It "failed to identify a significant difference in executive function testing among the groups," though guardian-reported self-control improved.

"The largest study in this systematic review evaluated 2,914 school-age children in Venezuela in a year-long, high-intensity, orchestra-based music education program ( n = 1,480) and a control group (n = 1,434) (Alemán et al., 2017). This study failed to identify a significant difference in executive function testing among the groups."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Aerobic exercise improves executive functioning, most notably inhibitory control, in typically developing children, though evidence is tentative and one week-long study found no main effect — related
• 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
• In adolescents, prior music training was associated with faster test completion times but no executive function performance differences — related
• Music training shows mixed effects on cognitive flexibility: positive in some preschool DCCS studies, null in ten others — related