Musical instrument training
Musical instrument training has been studied in 5 papers since 2022: 1 trial and 2 observational studies in people, 2 reviews. The newest paper, Jun 17, 2025: “Never too late to start musical instrument training: Effects on working memory and subcortical preservation in healthy older adults across 4 years”.
5 papers study it9 findingsUpdated
“Among these four measures, the “group × time” ANOVA revealed a significant interaction on the phonological VFT [F(1,58) = 6.942, p = 0.011, partial η2 = 0.107] (see ).”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 2 independent labs in 2 countries
- Funders: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and 6 more
- Human trial1
- Humans2
Studies in people
1 study gave musical instrument training to people and measured what changed.
up: Improves verbal working memory
Randomized trial60 people67 femalesbetween 61 and 87 years of age10 weeks
Community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older without previous formal musical training
Frontiers in aging neuroscience, Aug 15, 2023
What did studies of Musical instrument training find?
6Studies of Musical instrument training measured 6 outcomes; the most studied are verbal working memory (2 studies), processing speed (2) and inhibition (2).
Verbal working memory
upin humans2
2 studies
Verbal working memory
upin humans2
Musical instrument training improves verbal working memory in humans.
“The continue group demonstrated better preservation of verbal WM performance (a composite score of Digit Span and Verbal Fluency tasks) and right putamen gray matter volume (GMV) over 4 years.”
Humans4 years
Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)
Musical instrument training improves verbal working memory in humans.
“The “group × time” interaction was also significant on the RT in the Sternberg task [F(1,51) = 5.292, p = 0.026, partial η2 = 0.094] (see ).”
Human trial10 weeks
Frontiers in aging neuroscience
Processing speed
upin humans2
2 studies
Processing speed
upin humans2
Musical instrument training improves processing speed in humans (d = 0.47, p < .0001).
“and a moderate effect on processing speed (d = 0.47,p < .0001).”
Reviewn = 502
Brain and cognition
Musical instrument training improves processing speed in humans (d = .47, p < .0001).
“Random effects models revealed a moderate effect on processing speed (d = .47, p < .0001)”
Reviewhealthy, musically-naïve older adultsn = 487
Preprint
Inhibition
upin humans2
2 studies
Inhibition
upin humans2
Musical instrument training improves inhibition in humans (d = 0.27, p = .0335).
“Random effects models revealed: a low effect on inhibition (d = 0.27,p = .0335)”
Reviewn = 502
Brain and cognition
Musical instrument training improves inhibition in humans (d = 0.27, p < .05).
“low effects on switching (d = -.27, p =.60) and inhibition (d = 0.27, p < .05)”
Reviewhealthy, musically-naïve older adultsn = 487
Preprint
Working memory
no changein humans1
1 study
Working memory
no changein humans1
Musical instrument training has no effect on working memory in humans.
“No effect was found for selective visual attention or working memory.”
Reviewhealthy, musically-naïve older adultsn = 487
Preprint
Verbal fluency
upin humans1
1 study
Verbal fluency
upin humans1
Musical instrument training improves verbal fluency in humans.
“Among these four measures, the “group × time” ANOVA revealed a significant interaction on the phonological VFT [F(1,58) = 6.942, p = 0.011, partial η2 = 0.107] (see ).”
Human trial10 weeksn = 60
Frontiers in aging neuroscience
Cerebellar-hippocampal functional connectivity
upin humans1
1 study
Cerebellar-hippocampal functional connectivity
upin humans1
Musical instrument training increases cerebellar-hippocampal functional connectivity in humans.
“musicians possessed greater cerebellar-hippocampal FC”
Humansbrain
Frontiers in human neuroscience