Enhancement of loudness discrimination acuity for self-generated sound is independent of musical experience

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 7;16(12):e0260859. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260859. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Musicians tend to have better auditory and motor performance than non-musicians because of their extensive musical experience. In a previous study, we established that loudness discrimination acuity is enhanced when sound is produced by a precise force generation task. In this study, we compared the enhancement effect between experienced pianists and non-musicians. Without the force generation task, loudness discrimination acuity was better in pianists than non-musicians in the condition. However, the force generation task enhanced loudness discrimination acuity similarly in both pianists and non-musicians. The reaction time was also reduced with the force control task, but only in the non-musician group. The results suggest that the enhancement of loudness discrimination acuity with the precise force generation task is independent of musical experience and is, therefore, a fundamental function in auditory-motor interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation*
  • Adult
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Discrimination Learning / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Loudness Perception*
  • Music / psychology*
  • Psychomotor Performance*
  • Reaction Time
  • Sound*
  • Young Adult