Music Training and Child Development Study

University of Southern California

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Music

Treatments: Behavioral: After School Enrichment Program; Behavioral: Music Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05502939

UP-22-00056

Details and patient eligibility

About

This proposed study aims to provide a definitive answer to whether music training benefits brain development, particularly brain inhibition control circuitry and its related health outcomes using a randomized control trial design.

In the study, 114 children between ages 6-8 from Los Angeles will be randomly assigned to a 24-month:(1) community-focused after school music training group focused on a traditional strings curriculum at the Colburn school in Los Angeles (MG) or (2) a control group (CG) after-school program comprising of visual arts, book club, ethnic and cultural studies and theater without specific focus on systematic music training or sports. Imaging data will be collected at before and after the intervention (24 months), behavioral assessments will be conducted before the intervention and yearly afterwards, and mid-intervention evaluations will be performed every six months throughout the study.

Full description

The investigators will use an RCT design to investigate effects of a music training intervention on brain inhibition control circuitry. Throughout R61(N=40) and R33 (N=74) phases, 114 children between ages 6-8 from communities with limited resources in Los Angeles will be randomly assigned to a 24-month: (1) community-focused after school music training group focused on a traditional strings curriculum at the Colburn school in Los Angeles (MG) or (2) a control group (CG) after-school program comprising of visual arts, book club, ethnic and cultural studies and theater without specific focus on systematic music training or sports. Imaging data will be collected at before and after the intervention (24 months), behavioral assessments will be conducted before the intervention and yearly afterwards, and mid-intervention evaluations will be performed every six months throughout the study.

The investigators anticipate that the R61 phase will take 2 years and R33 will take 3 years to complete. The goal of the R61 phase is to evaluate the feasibility of executing the RCT. Comprehensive behavioral and imaging data will be collected at pre- and post-intervention, and mid-intervention evaluations will be performed every six months throughout the study. The combined R61/R33 phases will include 114 participants and will ultimately provide much needed guidance on the development of larger trials in the field.

Enrollment: 114 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 8 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• normal IQ (standard score of >85 in the Abbreviated Wechsler's Scale of Intelligence)
• Living in LA within 2 miles radius of the location of the music and the afterschool programs
• limited resources as defined by the Hollingshead Index cumulative score below 29
• ages 6-8

Exclusion criteria

• current diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disorders
• prior engagement in formal and systematic music training for more than 6 months
• previous or current diagnosis of severe hearing loss defined as air conduction thresholds greater than 60 dB HL through 8 kHz or- severe vision loss that is not correctable with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses
• non-removable, non-MRI compatible body parts
• Claustrophobia

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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114 participants in 2 patient groups

Music

Experimental group

Description:

57 participants, aged 6-8 Participants will be enrolled in a music training program led by professional trained music instructor of the Colburn School of Music. The music curriculum follows the standard Suzuki training method. Students attend the program 3 days per week, 2 weekday afternoons and one weekend morning. Each session lasts approximately 1 hour long. Each student will be given a string instrument to take home (often a viola or a violin). Each learning day focuses on development of musical elements including rhythm and meter, form, pitch, and performance. Students will take part in annual performances intended to give them a motivational goal, sense of mastery and to share their accomplishments with their peers, family, and community.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Music Program

After School Enrichment Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

57 participants, aged 6-8 Participants will be enrolled in an after school program led by instructors and will include visual arts, theater, and general cultural studies. Students attend the program 3 days per week in the afternoon for 1 hour long lessons. Students will take part in an end of the year celebration to share their work with family and community members. Duration and frequency of the after-school program will be matched to the music intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: After School Enrichment Program