The Brain that makes Music and is Changed by it
This chapter begins by discussing how learning to play the piano changes the brain. An experiment is shown which correlate skill acquisition with changes in motor cortical output. It is demonstrated that acquisition of the necessary motor skills to perform a five-finger movement exercise correctly is associated with reorganization in the cortical motor outputs to the muscles involved in the task. A discussion on mental practice is also provided. The chapter then explores the sensorimotor mismatch and task-induced dystonia. The motor cortex plays an important role in motor skill learning, but so does the sensory cortex. The sensorimotor cortex changes as a consequence of skill acquisition. The data of the studies may be useful in understanding not only the physiology of skill acquisitions, but also the pathophysiology of movement disorders in skilled performers.
Keywords: brain plasticity, musical training, music, piano, motor skills, sensorimotor mismatch, task-induced dystonia, sensorimotor cortex, skill acquisition
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