CCiL Annual Lecture - 2016
"Language, music and brain plasticity"
Mireille Besson
Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives
CNRS and Aix-Marseille University
In this lecture, I will first illustrate how the comparison between music and language contributed to the evolution of the neurobiological models of language processing. I will then focus on transfer effects from music training to different aspects of language processing, presenting results from cross-sectional studies (comparing professional musician and non-musician adults) and from longitudinal studies with children (with or without music training). Finally, I will consider the societal impact of music training for children with learning difficulties, showing the positive influence of different types of music training (Cognitive-Musical Training and music therapy) on language, motor, social and emotional behaviors.