How music boosts brain

Many people believe that learning an instrument contributes to better educational attainment, cognition (thinking) and intelligence scores in children. But does this musicality translate to better cognition later in life?

A recent study investigated this question by asking middle-aged and older people to complete a questionnaire on their musical experience and complete cognitive tests. The results showed musical people had better memory and executive function (the ability to stay focused on tasks and control oneself). A good memory, important for playing a musical instrument, translates to people's cognitive performance. .

Continuing to play

. Currently, amateur musicians show the highest cognitive performance of participants. That's because continuing to play an instrument brings continued brain health benefits. By contrast, having played an instrument for three years during childhood might not have that big an impact on our cognitive performance later in life.

The "Mozart effect"

The famous "Mozart effect" was based on a study published in

1993. . Sadly, the current study found no association between listening to music and cognitive performance. Cognitive stimulation depends on being actively engaged in activities. Thus passively listening to music doesn't seem to provide any cognitive benefits.

Study conclusions

Playing an instrument or singing seems to have benefits to our brain health in ageing, according to the study. . The study provides no evidence for this yet and it is also not clear how the findings apply to the general population, since most people in the study were female, well-educated and well-off.

A. Better memory and musical people

B. Improving cognitive performance

C. Continued engagement in playing an instrument helps cognitive function

D. It showed that when played Mozart, students scored higher on intelligence tests

E. Similarly, executive function required when playing an instrument also improves it

F. Being musical without playing an instrument could also improve cognitive performance

G. What is yet to be established is whether this would also help prevent cognitive decline as we age