Search Results (213)

Different sports require elevated visual-spatial and related cognitive abilities, which are increasingly recognized as crucial not only for athletic performance but also for broader public health implications. Sex-related differences in these abilities have often been explained through both biological and sociocultural factors, with males traditionally described as having superior visual-spatial skills. However, fewer studies have investigated how targeted physical training can enhance these abilities in women. This study aimed to analyze the influence of two different cycling interval training exercises on visual-spatial ability in women. Seventy-two healthy, active, and young women engaged in (1) a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session followed by a cognitive training (CT); or (2) a Low-Volume Interval Training (LVIT) session followed by a CT; or (3) a cognitive (COG) session, consisting of listening to music followed by a CT; or (4) a control (CTRL) session, consisting of solely listening to music. Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and after the training sessions using the Metzler and Shepard Test (MS), the Paper Folding and Cutting Test (PFC), and the Mental Rotation Test (MRT). No significant between-group differences were observed. However, in all groups the time to complete the PFC and MRT tests was significantly lower and the number of errors was significantly smaller for the PFC test in the post-test compared with the pre-test. These findings expand the current literature by demonstrating that interval training, whether high intensity or low volume, when combined with cognitive training, may improve certain aspects of visual-spatial cognitive performance in healthy, active, young women. These findings highlight the potential of combining structured exercise with cognitive challenges. Such interventions may promote cognitive health in women and contribute to long-term public health outcomes. Full article

Objective: This paper examines how rhythm-enhanced digital dance affects children’s motor abilities, cognitive performance, and neuromuscular synchronization. Methods: In a randomized repeated-measures study, 38 children (7–12 years) underwent three conditions: groove music-accompanied dance (GODA), conventional music dance (CODA), and non-musical physical activity (CON). Assessments of gross motor skills (using TGMD-3), executive function (using BRIEF and Stroop Test), and muscle coordination (using sEMG) were conducted. Results: Gross motor skills: GODA showed significantly higher TGMD scores in locomotor (p = 0.03) and ball skills (p = 0.02) compared to both CODA and CON (p < 0.001). Executive function: Inhibition and shifting dimensions showed significant post-intervention condition differences (p < 0.05). Muscle coordination: GODA exhibited greater β- and γ-band COH areas in the standing long jump compared to both CODA (p = 0.02) and CON (p < 0.001), and increased γ-band COH areas in single-leg balance compared to CODA (p = 0.02) and CON (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Combining rhythmic auditory stimulation with movement training offers a promising approach for integrated motor-cognitive development in children. Full article

In the breeding of farm animals, music serves as an environmental enrichment factor that can improve the mood and welfare level of animals. However, it is not clear whether pigs receiving different modes of musical stimulation can improve cognitive performance. This study aimed to explore the extent to which different music stimulation methods affect the cognitive ability-related behaviors and neural substances of weaned piglets by providing them with various music stimuli. Fifty-four piglets were randomly divided into three groups: control group (C Group), continuous music group (CM group), and intermittent music group (IM group). The CM group received half an hour of music stimulation in the morning and afternoon of each day when the piglets were active, the IM group was given a cross-stimulation mode between the music playing time and the music pause time, and the C group had a music player installed in the enclosure, but no music was played, and the test period was 3 d. The results of the study showed the following: (1) Compared with piglets in the C group, piglets in the CM and IM groups showed more exploring behavior and less aggressive behavior (p < 0.05), while the playing behavior of piglets in the CM and IM groups was significantly higher than those in the C group (p < 0.05). (2) Compared with the CM group, the expression of cognition-related DCX, BDNF, and EGR1 genes in hippocampal tissues of the IM group was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and the expression of CREB was significantly lower (p < 0.05). (3) Western blot results showed that the protein expression of neural tissue development and cognitive-related genes (DCX and BDNF) in the hippocampal tissues of the IM group was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and the protein expression of EGR1 was highly significant (p < 0.01), compared with the CM group. These findings may indicate that intermittent music patterns can improve the cognitive abilities of weaned piglets regarding the surrounding physical and social environmental cognitive abilities. Full article

This study analyzes students’ perceptions of cultural diversity in music education in the south of Spain and the northern region of the African continent, specifically in Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla—territories characterized by significant cultural and linguistic heterogeneity. Music, understood as a universal pedagogical tool, is approached as a strategic resource to promote educational inclusion and the development of intercultural competencies. The main objective was to examine the influence of gender, type of educational institution, and attendance at conservatories and/or music schools on students’ perceptions of intercultural inclusion in musical contexts. The sample consisted of 645 students aged between 11 and 54 years (M = 13.86; SD = 3.90), enrolled in primary schools, secondary schools, and professional and higher conservatories. Regarding gender, 55.2% identified as female, 43.6% as male, and 1.2% as non-binary. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 28). After verifying non-normality through the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H) were applied to the variables of gender, type of institution, and attendance at conservatories and/or music schools. The results show that female students tend to express more favorable perceptions regarding equality in musical ability and intercultural learning. Furthermore, students attending Conservatories and Primary Schools exhibit more positive perceptions than those in Secondary Schools. Attendance at conservatories enhances perceptions of equality in musical ability, though it does not necessarily improve intercultural relations or conflict resolution. In conclusion, the research confirms the potential of music as a vehicle for educational inclusion and the development of intercultural competencies, highlighting the need for inclusive and critical pedagogical approaches that respond to students’ cultural diversity. Full article

Background and Objectives: Music therapy has been used as a non-pharmacological treatment for neurological conditions, supporting cognitive, psychosocial, behavioural and motor functions. Although it is evidence-based, safe, and cost-effective, music therapy remains uncommon in neurorehabilitation services, largely due to a lack of quality research. This review aims to understand the effect of music therapy on psychological outcomes for neurological conditions using randomised clinical trials (RCTs). Materials and Methods: A systematic review of literature published in four databases (PsycINFO, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus which is inclusive of Medline and EMBASE) from 1 January 2015 to 31 January 2025 was performed. Results: Ten RCT’s comprising 469 participants were included in this review, with seven studies synthesised using a systematic review without meta-analysis approach. MT was found to improve cognitive function in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), but not in those with stroke or Huntington’s disease (HD). In HD, improvements in cognitive function were noted in the comparator group. MT led to significant improvements in emotional well-being in stroke survivors, though not in mood. Behavioural outcomes did not significantly improve in HD, while quality of life improved following MT for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke. Conclusions: Overall, MT was perceived as a positive intervention with potential psychological benefits. However, findings were mixed, and the heterogeneity of population, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and study design limited the ability to detect group differences and reduced confidence in the findings. Future research should focus on larger-scale RCTs that reduce bias, accommodate population diversity, and clearly define and distinguish MT from treatment-as-usual. Better standardisation of outcomes and improved reporting will be essential to evaluate the efficacy of music therapy in neurological conditions and strengthen the evidence base for its use in clinical practice. Full article

Background. Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurological condition that can severely impair gait, often through changes to gait parameters including stride length, velocity, and variability. Therapeutic interventions such as Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS^®) target gait dysfunction in PD by using the regular beat of music or metronome clips to cue normalized walking patterns. Previous research has suggested that auditory cue properties (e.g., familiarity and groove) and individual factors (e.g., beat perception ability and susceptibility to dual-task interference) influence auditory cueing treatment efficacy in healthy young and older adults; however, optimization of rhythmic cueing across individuals with PD remains understudied. Methods. To address this, we explored the effects of familiarity, groove, beat perception ability, and synchronization instructions on gait in patients with PD during accelerated auditory cues. Individuals with idiopathic PD were randomized to walk freely or synchronized to music and metronome cues played 10% faster than their baseline walking cadence. Musical stimuli varied in self-reported familiarity and perceived groove and beat perception ability was assessed to classify participants as good or poor beat perceivers. Results. Overall, high-groove music and synchronized walking elicited faster gait patterns compared to low-groove music and free walking, respectively, as demonstrated by increased gait velocity and cadence. Familiarity and beat perception ability did not significantly affect gait in individuals with PD. Discussion. Altogether, our results indicate that high-groove music and synchronized walking lead to the greatest gait improvements during cueing, regardless of beat perception ability. Conclusion. Future studies and clinical interventions should consider stimulus type and synchronization instructions when implementing cueing therapies for gait dysfunction in PD in order to optimize treatment responses. Full article

In the context of typhlo music therapy, personalized interventions can significantly enhance the therapeutic experience for visually impaired children. Leveraging a data-driven approach, we incorporate action-rule discovery to provide insights into the factors of music that may benefit individual children. The system utilizes a comprehensive dataset developed in collaboration with an experienced music therapist, special educator, and clinical psychologist, encompassing meta-decision attributes, decision attributes, and musical features such as tempo, rhythm, and pitch. By extracting and analyzing these features, our methodology identifies key factors that influence therapeutic outcomes. Some themes discovered through action-rule discovery include the effect of harmonic richness and loudness on expression and communication. The main findings demonstrate the system’s ability to offer personalized, impactful, and actionable insights, leading to improved therapeutic experiences for children undergoing typhlo music therapy. Our conclusions highlight the system’s potential to transform music therapy by providing therapists with precise and effective tools to support their patients’ developmental progress. This work shows the significance of integrating advanced data analysis techniques in therapeutic settings, paving the way for future enhancements in personalized music therapy interventions. Full article

Generative AI has been gaining attention across various creative domains. In particular, MusicGen stands out as a representative approach capable of generating music based on text or audio inputs. However, it has limitations in producing high-quality outputs for specific genres and fully reflecting user intentions. This paper proposes a prompt tuning technique that effectively adjusts the output quality of MusicGen without modifying its original parameters and optimizes its ability to generate music tailored to specific genres and styles. Experiments were conducted to compare the performance of the traditional MusicGen with the proposed method and evaluate the quality of generated music using the Contrastive Language-Audio Pretraining (CLAP) and Kullback–Leibler Divergence (KLD) scoring approaches. The results demonstrated that the proposed method significantly improved the output quality and musical coherence, particularly for specific genres and styles. Compared with the traditional model, the CLAP score was increased by 0.1270, and the KLD score was increased by 0.00403 on average. The effectiveness of prompt tuning in optimizing the performance of MusicGen validated the proposed method and highlighted its potential for advancing generative AI-based music generation tools. Full article

Background/Objectives: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving the basal ganglia and is characterized by psychiatric, cognitive, and movement dysfunction, including gait and balance impairment. Given the limited efficacy of pharmacological treatments for HD motor symptoms, nonpharmacological approaches like rhythmic auditory stimulation are being explored. This study aims to describe walking performance in people with HD during rhythmic auditory stimulation using external musical cues and internal singing cues. Methods: Individuals in the manifest stage of HD performed walking in four conditions: (1) comfortable pace, (2) cognitive dual task, (3) musical cue (music was played aloud), and (4) singing cue (participants sang aloud). Sensors measured cadence, velocity, stride length, and variability. Relationships between change in cadence and motor and cognitive measures were explored. Results: While no direct measurements of synchronization were performed, limiting our interpretation, neither the external musical cue nor the singing cue significantly improved walking performance. Both cues increased variability, similar to what was observed during the dual task. Greater subjective balance confidence and better cognitive performance were associated with positive cadence change during cueing. Conclusions: Musical cues may be too cognitively demanding for individuals with Huntington’s disease as they worsen gait variability without increasing gait speed, cadence, or stride length. Although global cognition and perceived balance confidence were related to the ability to increase cadence, very few people were able to increase their cadence during either cue. Therefore, the results do not support the use of musical cues to improve gait for individuals with Huntington’s disease. Full article

The ergogenic effects of music have been well described across various modes of exercise with widespread use across competitive athletes and recreational exercisers alike. Underlying the acute beneficial effects of music during exercise are profound physiological and psychological changes which involve an array of different organ systems, including but not limited to cardiovascular, endocrine, skeletal muscle, and nervous systems. While the use of music to enhance physical performance and improve associated mechanisms has been largely optimized in healthy individuals, the investigations of the translation to individuals with neurological conditions are still ongoing. Recently, it has been established that the personalization of music interventions greatly influences performance-enhancing benefits and aids in physical performance optimization in healthy individuals. Self-selected music (SSM) has been documented to impart ergogenic advantages over pre-determined or non-preferred music, including improved cardiorespiratory endurance, power development, and velocity of movement which are characterized by adaptative physiological and psychological changes. Evidence of the benefits of SSM has progressed to the degree to which the overlap of possible benefits between healthy and clinical populations is becoming more apparent. This aim of this theoretical review is to discuss how personalized music influences psychophysiological determinants of exercise ability in healthy individuals and consider how these findings may be applicable to neurological conditions to enhance exercise capacity. The current knowledge on the role of SSM in augmenting physiological and psychological responses to exercise in healthy individuals is presented along with how these mechanisms might be leveraged to overcome exercise limitations in neurological conditions. Overall, SSM appears to have theoretical support to be a promising therapeutic approach to improving exercise ability in neurological conditions through similar ergogenic mechanisms documented in healthy individuals, but further investigation is warranted. Full article

Dexterity of the fingers is crucial in physical function, as it directly impacts daily activities and is closely connected to cognitive function. The production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is related to the fingertips in motion. In previous research, we developed a finger motion measurement system for the elderly by integrating image recognition technology with a touch panel. However, despite the system’s ability to capture fine-grained coordinate changes at the moment when fingers touch the panel, the experiment was unengaging for participants. Therefore, we improved the system for measuring finger motion to be less exhausting and more enjoyable. We incorporated music and gamification elements at the moments of finger touch. We obtained a selection of representative rhythm tracks and implemented animated materials in gamification. The participants’ fatigue and enjoyment were measured based on “responsiveness” and “focus” using a quantitative evaluation method. Full article

In deep learning, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) is a well-established and widely used approach for music generation. Nevertheless, creating musical compositions that match the quality of those created by human composers remains a formidable challenge. The intricate nature of musical components, including pitch, intensity, rhythm, notes, chords, and more, necessitates the extraction of these elements from extensive datasets, making the preliminary work arduous. To address this, we employed various tools to deconstruct the musical structure, conduct step-by-step learning, and then reconstruct it. This article primarily presents the techniques for dissecting musical components in the preliminary phase. Subsequently, it introduces the use of LSTM to build a deep learning network architecture, enabling the learning of musical features and temporal coherence. Finally, through in-depth analysis and comparative studies, this paper validates the efficacy of the proposed research methodology, demonstrating its ability to capture musical coherence and generate compositions with similar styles. Full article

Background: Listening to music has been widely reported to improve resistance exercise performance. However, few studies have considered lyrical content. The act of using explicit language has been shown to alter performance and psychophysiological responses to exercise. Although explicit language is widely used in mainstream music, it is unknown if altering explicit lyric content in music influences performance and psychophysiological responses to resistance exercise. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of censoring explicit lyrical music on bench press performance and psychophysiological responses to exercise. Methods: In a counterbalanced crossover manner, resistance-trained males (n = 11) were subjected to two conditions, namely (1) explicit music (EM) or (2) censored music (CM). Following a warm-up, music played continuously as participants completed 2 sets × 2 repetitions as explosively as possible, while a linear position transducer monitored the mean velocity of the barbell. Participants then completed 3 sets × repetitions to failure (RTFs) at 60% of a 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) separated by 2 min of rest. Motivation to exercise, psychological arousal, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured post-exercise. Total RTFs, mean velocity, motivation, psychological arousal, and RPE were compared between music conditions. Results: Findings show that total RTFs (p = 0.012) was significantly lower with CM versus EM, while mean velocity (p = 0.844) was not different between conditions. Psychological arousal (p = 0.005) and motivation (p = 0.002) were lower with CM versus EM. CM also resulted in a higher RPE (p = 0.011) compared to EM. Conclusions: Findings suggest that CM results in worse repetition volume compared to EM during resistance exercise but does not influence explosive ability. Changes in performance may be due to underlying decreases in motivation and psychological arousal. CM may also cause less dissociation, as evidenced by a higher RPE. Future research investigating the effects of lyrical content on exercise performance is warranted to further support current findings. Full article

Sustainability has gained significant importance in today’s educational context due to growing environmental concerns. This highlights the need to address this concept in teacher education so that future educators are equipped to help students develop competencies in this area. This study explores the use of soundscapes in environmental education, focusing on exploratory listening in relation to natural and urban sounds within the context of sustainability. The study examined the ability of 151 pre-service teachers (62 in music education and 89 in general education) to identify, characterize, and respond emotionally to these sounds. The methodology included an ad hoc task based on Schafer’s principles to identify sound elements, the PANAS questionnaire to assess emotional states before the listening activity, and a questionnaire to evaluate the emotions experienced during the task. The results indicate limited competence in characterizing sound elements, with music education students performing better than their general education peers. Furthermore, natural environments were associated with positive emotions, while urban environments elicited negative feelings, with no significant differences between the two groups. These findings underscore the importance of integrating soundscape awareness into university curricula to promote greater environmental consciousness and emotional well-being. Full article

A significant advantage of off-grid direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation algorithms using difference coarrays is their ability to resolve more sources than the number of physical sensors. Current coarray-based off-grid DOA estimation algorithms experience a significant decline in estimation accuracy with limited snapshots. Moreover, most existing DOA estimation techniques exhibit a high computational complexity, limiting their practical implementation in real-time systems. To address these limitations, in this work, we propose a novel coarray-based off-grid DOA estimation algorithm that achieves a computationally efficient performance while maintaining a high estimation accuracy under snapshot-constrained conditions. The proposed algorithm first performs DOA estimation through coarray-augmented spatial smoothing multiple signal classification (SS-MUSIC), followed by noise suppression via multiplication with a constructed selection matrix. The off-grid angular deviations are sequentially refined based on the iterative correction mechanism. The disadvantage of a large number of snapshots requirement is overcome thanks to the combination of noise elimination and sequential angle refinement. Theoretical performance bounds are established through Cramér–Rao bound (CRB) analysis, while comprehensive simulations validate the estimation accuracy of the proposed algorithm and the robustness in off-grid scenarios. Full article