Audio-visual integration in motor systems in expert musicians as revealed by cortical alpha rhythms
Babiloni
Claudio1, 2, 3,
Fabrizio
Vecchi2, 4,
Nicola
Marzano5,
Danilo
Spada6,
Simone
Rossi7,
Ivo
Bruni8,
Paolo
M.
Rossin2, 3, 9 and
Daniela
Perani6*
-
1
University of Foggia, Italy
-
2
Association Fatebenefratelli for Research (AFaR), Italy
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3
San Raffaele Cassino and Pisana , Italy
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4
IRCCS Centro S. Giovanni di Dio, Hosp. Fatebenefratelli, Italy
-
5
University La Sapienza , Italy
-
6
“Vita-Salute” San Raffaele University, and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy
-
7
University of Siena, Italy
-
8
EBNeuro spa, Italy
-
9
University Campus Biomedico of Rome, Italy
Background: Human frontoparietal “mirror” systems are active not only when we perform and observe aimed actions, but also when we express and comprehend emotions. Thus, they seem crucial for understanding actions or emotions of other people. Which role do these systems play in the understanding of music? And how in the interplay of sensorimotor and auditory processes?
Aim: This electroencephalographic (EEG) study tested the hypothesis that a “trained” human frontoparietal “mirror” systems, such as in expert musicians, could integrate visual and auditory information during observation of a video showing a classic music play.
Method: Expert saxophonists watched and listened a video showing their music performance in two experimental conditions. The audio (musical production) and video (motor performance) were synchronized in one condition (“synchronized”), whereas they were dis-synchronized in the other condition (“dis-synchronized”). EEG rhythms were simultaneously recorded in quartets of saxophonists in these experimental conditions (EBNeuro EEG amplifiers, sampling rate of 512 Hz, bandpass of 0.01-100 Hz, 30 electrodes). Cortical sources of EEG data were estimated by low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Cortical activation was indexed by percentage reduction in power of dominant alpha rhythms (8-12 Hz), the so called alpha event-related desynchronization (ERD). The defined regions of interest belonged to prefrontal and premotor (bilateral BA44/45, BA6v), inferior parietal (BA40) and ventral visual (bilateral BA19, BA20, BA37) and auditory (bilateral BA41, BA42) structures.
Results : Amplitude of alpha ERD (i.e. cortical activation) was higher during the “synchronized” than “dis-synchronized” condition (p<0.05) in all the defined ROIs belonging to the motor mirror system. The effect was indeed, especially evident in Broca’s area (left BA 44/45). In contrast, no difference of alpha ERD between conditions was observed in the other structures.
Conclusions : In musicians, understanding of music play appears to be subserved by the integration of visuomotor and auditory information in “mirror” systems, including Broca’s area. Such integration may be related to the modulation of dominant brain oscillations such as alpha rhythms.
Conference:
Tuning the Brain for Music, Helsinki, Finland, 5 Feb - 6 Feb, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
Session Talks
Citation:
Claudio
B,
Vecchi
F,
Marzano
N,
Spada
D,
Rossi
S,
Bruni
I,
Rossin
PM and
Perani
D
(2009). Audio-visual integration in motor systems in expert musicians as revealed by cortical alpha rhythms.
Conference Abstract:
Tuning the Brain for Music.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.02.007
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Received:
23 Jan 2009;
Published Online:
23 Jan 2009.
*
Correspondence:
Daniela Perani, “Vita-Salute” San Raffaele University, and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, perani.daniela@hsr.it