Diffusion tensor MRI tractography reveals increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in arcuate fasciculus following music-cued motor training

• Published in: Brain and cognition Vol. 116; pp. 40 - 46
• Main Authors: Moore, Emma, Schaefer, Rebecca S., Bastin, Mark E., Roberts, Neil, Overy, Katie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-08-2017; Elsevier Science; Academic Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anisotropy; Arcuate fasciculus; Auditory Perception - physiology; Auditory plasticity; Auditory-motor training; Diffusion Tensor Imaging - methods; Diffusion tensor MRI; Ears & hearing; Effects; Female; Handedness; Humans; Learning; Learning - physiology; Magnetic resonance imaging; Male; Motor Activity - physiology; Motor skill learning; Motor task performance; Music; Music-cued motor training; Myelination; Neural plasticity; Neuroplasticity; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Rehabilitation; Substantia alba; White matter; White Matter - diagnostic imaging; Young Adult; Neuroplasticity; Diffusion tensor MRI; Auditory-motor training; Music-cued motor training; White matter; Arcuate fasciculus
• ISSN: 0278-2626; 1090-2147
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2017.05.001

•The neuroplasticity effects of music-cued motor training were investigated.•Participants completed left-handed motor training with or without musical cues.•Bilateral arcuate fasciculi (AF) microstructure was compared pre and post training.•Left-handed music-cued motor training increased fractional anisotropy in right AF.•Auditory cues promoted rapid microstructural change in task-relevant pathways.
Auditory cues are frequently used to support movement learning and rehabilitation, but the neural basis of this behavioural effect is not yet clear. We investigated the microstructural neuroplasticity effects of adding musical cues to a motor learning task. We hypothesised that music-cued, left-handed motor training would increase fractional anisotropy (FA) in the contralateral arcuate fasciculus, a fibre tract connecting auditory, pre-motor and motor regions. Thirty right-handed participants were assigned to a motor learning condition either with (Music Group) or without (Control Group) musical cues. Participants completed 20minutes of training three times per week over four weeks. Diffusion tensor MRI and probabilistic neighbourhood tractography identified FA, axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivity before and after training. Results revealed that FA increased significantly in the right arcuate fasciculus of the Music group only, as hypothesised, with trends for AD to increase and RD to decrease, a pattern of results consistent with activity-dependent increases in myelination. No significant changes were found in the left ipsilateral arcuate fasciculus of either group. This is the first evidence that adding musical cues to movement learning can induce rapid microstructural change in white matter pathways in adults, with potential implications for therapeutic clinical practice.