Summary
(1) Slow brain potentials were recorded during musical tasks in 60 healthy subjects (42 right-handers and 18 left-handers). In period I the tasks (pitch comparison or distinguishing of chords) were solved and in period II the results were written down. Eye movements and vocalizations were avoided. (2) Unilateral lateralizations of negative potentials, recorded in transversal leads between corresponding brain regions, were determined from a baseline measured in a 3 s pretest period. Left-sided or right-sided lateralizations in frontal, precentral, parietal and temporal regions were taken as evidence for a stronger activation of the underlying cortical areas. (3) During period I, music tasks caused a right-sided lateralization in 53%, a left-sided one in 39% and no lateralization in 8% of the subjects. Language and calculation tasks, however, showed >80% left-sided lateralizations in the same subjects. In period II lateralizations appeared contralateral to the writing hand, mainly in pre-central leads. (4) The subjects (N = 60) were divided into 3 groups on the basis of their musical training: 20 non-musicians, 20 amateurs and 20 professional musicians were compared. A right-sided lateralization occurred more often in non-musicians and amateurs than in professionals. (5) Right-handers and left-handers had about equal right-sided lateralizations in musical tests. But in left-handers bilateral negativity without lateralization occurred more often and left-sided lateralization less often than in right-handers. (6) In 20 right-handers the passive experience or enjoyment of music was investigated. While only listening to music without tasks performance 8 subjects had a right-sided lateralization, 6 a left-sided one and 6 had bilateral negativity without lateralization. (7) We conclude that music processing, unlike language processing, is not dominant in one hemisphere. It is suggested that electrophysiological correlates of hemispheric lateralization during musical tests may depend on musical training and handedness, but statistical significance needs further investigations on more subjects.
Zusammenfassung
Von 60 gesunden Probanden (42 Rechtshänder und 18 Linkshänder) wurden langsame Hirnpotentiale bei Musikaufgaben in Periode I (Vergleich von Tonhöhen und Unterscheidung von Akkorden) und beim Schreiben der Ergebnisse in Periode II aufsummiert und gemittelt. (2) Einseitiges Überwiegen negativer Potentiale (Lateralisierung rechts oder links) wurde in Querableitungen zwischen korrespondierenden Hirnregionen frontal, präzentral, parietal and temporal links und rechts registriert. Die Lateralisierung wurde nach dem mittleren Potential einer Vorperiode von 3 s gemessen. Einseitige Lateralisierungen werden als hirnelektrische Korrelate vermehrter Aktivierung der darunter liegenden Rindenfelder gedeutet. (3) Bei Musikaufgaben der Periode I zeigten 53% der Probanden vorwiegende Rechtslateralisation, 39% Linkslateralisation und 8% keine Seitendifferenz. Sprach- und Rechenaufgaben machten bei den gleichen Probanden über 80% Linkslateralisation. In der Schreibperiode II war die Lateralisierung jeweils kontralateral zur schreibenden Hand und maximal über der motorischen Handregion. (4) Nach ihrer Musikausbildung wurden drei Gruppen unterschieden: 20 Musiklaien, 20 Musikamateure und 20 Berufsmusiker. Musiklaien und Musikamateure zeigten häufigere Rechtslateralisierung als Berufsmusiker. (5) Rechtshänder und Linkshänder hatten mit 51 und 56% etwa gleichhäufige Rechtslateralisation bei analytischen Musiktests. Doch waren bei den Linkshändern bilateral gleiche Potentiale häufiger und Linkslateralisation seltener als bei Rechtshändern. (6) Bei 20 Rechtshändern wurde das passive, gefühlsbetonte Musikhören ohne Testaufgabe untersucht. Dabei hatten nur 8 Probanden eine Rechtslateralisation, 6 eine Linkslateralisation und 6 keine Seitendifferenz. (7) Im Gegensatz zur Linksdominanz der Sprache ist Musikverarbeitung keine konstante Dominanzfunktion einer Großhirnseite. Es wird angenommen, daß die hirnelektrische Großhirnlateralisierung bei analytischen Musikaufgaben von der Musikausbildung und der Händigkeit beeinflußt werden kann. Doch sind die Unterschiede der drei Ausbildungsgruppen noch nicht statistisch signifikant und an grö\eren Probandenzahlen zu kontrollieren.
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Altenmüller, E. Hirnelektrische korrelate der cerebralen musikverarbeitung beim menschen. Eur Arch Psychiatr Neurol Sci 235, 342–354 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381003