Comparision of Neuropsychological Characteristics of Music Learners and Non- Music Learners

Humans initial experiences in life affects his brain structure and function as well as his cognitive functions. Music learning can result in significant changes in mental functions (emotional, cognitive and behavioral) of everyday activities. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare neuropsychological characteristics of students with music training and other students in elementary schools.
This study is an ex post facto research. The fifth-grade elementary students at Mashhad made the research population and 30 students under music training (who were dominant in playing musical instrument at least for two years) and 30 students who had no music training, were selected by cluster sampling and were compared. The research instruments included NEPSY scale neuropsychological, Wechsler Intelligence scale for children (WISC), and a clinical interview.
Findings: Results were analyzed by means of Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and SPSS-16. The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference between the neuropsychological characteristics, (including executive functions, attention, language, memory and learning) of music learners and non-music learners.
This results can be helpful in the identification and planning of neuropsychological interventions for promoting elementary students neuropsychological characteristics.