After the 6-week training, only the experimental group showed a significant improvement in the Digit Span test (especially in the Digit Span Backward) that measures working memory. Cognitive measurements included verbal ability, processing speed, working memory, and inhibitory control, which were administered before and after the curriculum in both groups. Different from traditional instrumental training, the curriculum did not use musical scores to emphasize creating association between sound (auditory modality) and finger movement (somato-motor system). Forty children (aged 6â8 years) were randomly assigned to either the experimental group ( n = 20), which received a 6-week (12-session) keyboard harmonica curriculum, or an untrained control group ( n = 20). Consequently, the present exploratory pilot study investigated the effect of a six-week instrumental practice program (i.e., playing the keyboard harmonica) on children's cognitive functions using a randomized controlled trial. Moreover, effects of short-term ( 5Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.4Division of Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.3Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.2Faculty of Music, Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan.1Graduate School of Social and Cultural Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.Xia Guo 1, Chie Ohsawa 2,3, Akiko Suzuki 1 and Kaoru Sekiyama 4,5 *
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |