Nevertheless, the conceptualization of hemispheric specialization is not straightforward, and the involvement of other higher-order processes, such as memory functions, should also be considered. According to those findings, specific neurocognitive functions intrinsic to music are governed by the right hemisphere and linguistic functions by the left hemisphere (Zatorre et al., 2002 Tervaniemi and Hugdahl, 2003). However, data indicating the lateralization of speech and music functions in the brain hemispheres (and thus differential neural architectures for speech and music) have also been obtained. It is also recognized in foreign language learning that the pronunciation skills are more fluent and better when the second language has been started prior puberty (Johnson and Newport, 1989).ДЄ number of studies indicate an overlap of the behavioral and neural resources between language and music. As in music practising, the starting age seems to play a crucial role in foreign language acquisition skills. With linguistic functions, the same areas have been shown to be activated with comprehension and production of language.

Neurofunctional accounts of music listening indicate the contribution of a network consisting of fronto-temporal and temporal areas in both the right and left hemispheres. Correspondingly, it is not yet certain how much the specific demands set up by a given musical genre or instrument can modulate the underlying brain functions (Tervaniemi, 2009). For instance, the role of the age at which practising a musical instrument was initiated and its effects on brain plasticity has not been widely investigated however, pioneering evidence points out that the younger the subjects begin playing an instrument, the greater are the neuroplastic effects on the brain (Schlaug et al., 1995 Pantev et al., 1998). However, it is far from evident how or why these anatomical changes occur. ( 2006) have pointed out, such structural differences naturally have functional implications.

Also, several other neural projections appear to be structurally modulated by increased myelinization in musicians (Bengtsson et al., 2005).ДЄs Magne et al. In addition to this, musicians seem to possess a larger anterior part of the corpus callosum than non-musicians (Schlaug et al., 1995). When comparing adult musicians and non-musicians, differences have been found in the auditory, motor, somatosensory, and visuospatial areas at the cortical level as well as in the cerebellum (Elbert et al., 1995 Pantev et al., 1998 Schneider et al., 2002 Gaser and Schlaug, 2003 Hutchinson et al., 2003 for a review see JГ¤ncke, 2009). Musical training can modulate brain functions in a holistic manner, causing even structural changes in the brain morphology.

Musicality of language