The ability to synchronize movement
to a steady beat relates to the brain’s response to sound. Musical training
with an emphasis on movement synchronization to musical beats may improve brain
synchrony, with the potential to benefit children with reading difficulties and
other auditory- based language impairments.
In a recent study, Northwestern
University researchers Tierney and Kraus tested the tapping ability of
high-school students ages 14-17. The participants tapped with their fingers,
along with a metronomic drum sound. While their tapping performance was being
measured, their brainstem EEG brain wave recordings were collected. Accuracy
was calculated based on how closely the participants’ tapping rate tied with
the metronome beats.
The findings revealed that beat
synchronization is related to the timing in speech-evoked (auditory) brainstem
responses. Consequently, if a child has difficulty with rhythmic timing this
may delay the development of their auditory awareness and reading ability. The
authors state “This is the first evidence linking beat synchronization ability
to individual differences in auditory system function.”
Activities set to a beat offer
exercise to the auditory system, potentially supporting the sound-to-meaning
associations which are essential to learning to read.
Journal Reference: Tierney A, Kraus
N (2013) “ The Ability to Move to a Beat Is Linked to the Consistency of Neural
Responses to Sound” The Journal of
Neuroscience 33(38):14981–14988.
