Abstract
Musical aptitude is commonly measured using tasks that involve discrimination of different types of musical auditory stimuli. Performance on such different discrimination tasks correlates positively with each other and with intelligence. However, no study to date has explored these associations using a genetically informative sample to estimate underlying genetic and environmental influences. In the present study, a large sample of Swedish twins (N = 10,500) was used to investigate the genetic architecture of the associations between intelligence and performance on three musical auditory discrimination tasks (rhythm, melody and pitch). Phenotypic correlations between the tasks ranged between 0.23 and 0.42 (Pearson r values). Genetic modelling showed that the covariation between the variables could be explained by shared genetic influences. Neither shared, nor non-shared environment had a significant effect on the associations. Good fit was obtained with a two-factor model where one underlying shared genetic factor explained all the covariation between the musical discrimination tasks and IQ, and a second genetic factor explained variance exclusively shared among the discrimination tasks. The results suggest that positive correlations among musical aptitudes result from both genes with broad effects on cognition, and genes with potentially more specific influences on auditory functions.
Highlights
Musical aptitude is commonly measured with tests tapping into the ability to discriminate musical auditory stimuli, e.g. melodies, rhythms, and pitches [1]
Sex had a significant effect on IQ (t(8479)510.97, p,0.001, Cohen’s d50.24), with men scoring slightly higher (M513.51, SE50.09) than females (M512.25, SE50.07), and on Pitch: 0.312+0.452+0.42250.48 – showing that 48% (Pitch) (t(6715)56.98, p,.001, Cohen’s d50.17), with females scoring slightly lower (M517.80, SE50.07) than males (M518.65, SE50.10)
We studied the genetic architecture of associations between musical discrimination ability, measured with the Swedish Musical Discrimination Test (SMDT), and intelligence
Summary
Musical aptitude is commonly measured with tests tapping into the ability to discriminate musical auditory stimuli, e.g. melodies, rhythms, and pitches [1].PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0113874 November 24, 2014Musical Discrimination and IntelligenceFollowing the pioneering work by Seashore [2,3] many such tests have been developed for various purposes [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Musical aptitude is commonly measured with tests tapping into the ability to discriminate musical auditory stimuli, e.g. melodies, rhythms, and pitches [1]. Moderate positive correlations have typically been reported between individual test scales measuring discrimination skills of different types of musical stimuli [5,6,7] suggesting the existence of an underlying more general musicality factor [11]. It consistently has been shown that musical aptitudes correlate positively with intelligence [13,14,15]. This correlation between intelligence and sensory discrimination is not unique for musical stimuli but extends to a variety of stimulus attributes in different sensory modalities. Sensory discrimination and acuity decrement during aging and, interestingly, these changes in perceptual processing may have a causal influence on age-related decrements in intelligence and performance on cognitive tasks, such as short-term memory [22,23]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
