Event Abstract Back to Event Music Training, Executive Functions and the P3a Response: Training-Related Changes in Performance and Neural Correlates Katri Saarikivi1*, Vesa Putkinen1, Mari Tervaniemi1 and Minna Huotilainen1, 2 1 University of Helsinki, Cognitive Brain Research Unit, Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Finland 2 The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland Recent studies have suggested a connection between music training and improved performance in tasks requiring executive functions such as working memory, inhibition, and set-shifting. Executive functions develop from early childhood until adolescence. Owing to this prolonged maturational course, their development may be susceptible to the influence of childhood activities like music training. We investigated differences in executive functions between children aged 9-15 engaged in music training and their not musically trained, but active, peers. We conducted neuropsychological tests for inhibition and set-shifting. In addition, we recorded the P3a response, related to auditory attention and distractibility, with EEG in a passive listening task. We found that the musically trained children performed better in the tests for inhibition and set-shifting than the untrained children. The magnitude of the P3a response predicted performance in the test for set-shifting so that children who performed better in the test showed smaller P3a responses than those who performed worse, irrespective of age and music training. In the test for inhibition, there was no link between P3a amplitude and test performance. These results provide support for the role of music training during childhood in developing executive functions. Furthermore, the connection between the P3a response and performance in the test for set-shifting indicates that the response can serve as a marker of inhibitory control. Keywords: Attention, EEG, executive functions, inhibition, P3a, transfer effects, Distractibility, music training, set-shifting, childhood development Conference: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 Jul - 31 Jul, 2014. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Cognition and Executive Processes Citation: Saarikivi K, Putkinen V, Tervaniemi M and Huotilainen M (2015). Music Training, Executive Functions and the P3a Response: Training-Related Changes in Performance and Neural Correlates. Conference Abstract: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2015.217.00318 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 19 Feb 2015; Published Online: 24 Apr 2015. * Correspondence: Ms. Katri Saarikivi, University of Helsinki, Cognitive Brain Research Unit, Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Helsinki, Finland, katri.saarikivi@helsinki.fi Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Katri Saarikivi Vesa Putkinen Mari Tervaniemi Minna Huotilainen Google Katri Saarikivi Vesa Putkinen Mari Tervaniemi Minna Huotilainen Google Scholar Katri Saarikivi Vesa Putkinen Mari Tervaniemi Minna Huotilainen PubMed Katri Saarikivi Vesa Putkinen Mari Tervaniemi Minna Huotilainen Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.