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Music and Plasticity of the Brain. Prof. Dr. Lutz Jäncke University of Zurich Neuropsychology. Main Discovery of Cognitive Neurosciences. Human brain is plastic in terms of Anatomy Function Human brain can be shaped by external influences Learning Practising.
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Music and Plasticity of the Brain Prof. Dr. Lutz Jäncke University of Zurich Neuropsychology
Main Discovery of Cognitive Neurosciences • Human brain is plastic in terms of • Anatomy • Function • Human brain can be shaped by external influences • Learning • Practising
Musicians as a model for brain plasticity • Professional musicians start very early in life with musical training • They continue to practise throughout their entire life many hours a day Increased grey matter density correlates with musicianship !
Plasticity, Music and Seniors • Practising music throughout the entire life prevents the decline of grey matter volume in the frontal cortex with increasing age. No grey matter loss
Extension • Not only music has the potential to shape the brain! • Many cognitions can modify the brain • Thus, use them or lose them ! • Be attentive and eager to learn throughout your entire life • Your brain will love it!
Music and Self-Focussed Attention • Hearing and imagining to hear music can induce a specific mode of brain processing • Self-focussed attention • Default mode of the brain • Similar to meditation
Music and the brain • Music is an ideal tool to study • Brain plasticity in the human brain • Self-referenced brain processing in the human