INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 11 Program Schedule 02/17/2024 10:45 am - 12:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology \| Education/Training \| Professional Practice Issues Final Abstract #53 The Relationship Between Musical Sophistication and Executive Functions: A Cross-Sectional Study on Moroccan Adults Manal Lamouine, University of South Florida, Tampa, United States Jennifer Bugos, University of South Florida, Tampa, United States Ouadi Khadija, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco Category: Cross Cultural Neuropsychology/ Clinical Cultural Neuroscience Keyword 1: executive functions Keyword 2: cognitive functioning Keyword 3: neuropsychological assessment Objective: Musical sophistication refers to the psychometric construct encompassing various musical skills, expertise, achievements, and related behaviors, which are assessed through multiple subscales measuring different dimensions. Understanding how musicality relates to executive functions, which play a crucial role in various cognitive processes, such as problem-solving, decision-making, attention, and working memory, can provide insights into the potential cognitive benefits of musical engagement. Thus, this first study in Morocco investigates the association between musical sophistication, assessed by the Arabic version of the Goldsmith Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI), and the performance of executive functions tasks in a sample of Moroccan adults. Participants and Methods: Our participants were 132 Moroccan adults aged between 18 and 40 years old. 51.4% of the participants were male, and 48.6% were female, 53% among them being expert and trainee musicians. A validated Arabic version of the Gold-MSI was used to measure the musicality among the general population. Executive functions were evaluated using various tests, including the Corsi Block Task, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, Digit Span Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Words Verbal Fluency Test, and Tower London Test. Results: Results of correlations indicated that the active engagement and musical training and singing ability subscales of the Gold-MSI were positively correlated with performance on the Verbal Fluency Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Digit Span Test, Corsi Block Task, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, and Tower London. However, no significant correlation was observed between the Gold-MSI subscales and the Go/Nogo Test. Conclusions: These findings suggest a potential link between musical sophistication and executive functions, highlighting the need for further research to explore the incorporation of musical activities or training into interventions or rehabilitation programs targeting executive function enhancement. Moreover, focusing on understudied populations, such as the Moroccan population from North Africa, emphasizes the cultural context and can pave the way for culturally tailored interventions that harness the cognitive benefits of music.

Poster

02/17/2024
10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology | Education/Training | Professional Practice Issues

Final Abstract #53

The Relationship Between Musical Sophistication and Executive Functions: A Cross-Sectional Study on Moroccan Adults

Manal Lamouine, University of South Florida, Tampa, United States
Jennifer Bugos, University of South Florida, Tampa, United States
Ouadi Khadija, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco

Category: Cross Cultural Neuropsychology/ Clinical Cultural Neuroscience

Keyword 1: executive functions
Keyword 2: cognitive functioning
Keyword 3: neuropsychological assessment

Objective:

Musical sophistication refers to the psychometric construct encompassing various musical skills, expertise, achievements, and related behaviors, which are assessed through multiple subscales measuring different dimensions. Understanding how musicality relates to executive functions, which play a crucial role in various cognitive processes, such as problem-solving, decision-making, attention, and working memory, can provide insights into the potential cognitive benefits of musical engagement. Thus, this first study in Morocco investigates the association between musical sophistication, assessed by the Arabic version of the Goldsmith Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI), and the performance of executive functions tasks in a sample of Moroccan adults.

Participants and Methods:

Our participants were 132 Moroccan adults aged between 18 and 40 years old. 51.4% of the participants were male, and 48.6% were female, 53% among them being expert and trainee musicians. A validated Arabic version of the Gold-MSI was used to measure the musicality among the general population. Executive functions were evaluated using various tests, including the Corsi Block Task, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, Digit Span Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Words Verbal Fluency Test, and Tower London Test.

Results:

Results of correlations indicated that the active engagement and musical training and singing ability subscales of the Gold-MSI were positively correlated with performance on the Verbal Fluency Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Digit Span Test, Corsi Block Task, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, and Tower London. However, no significant correlation was observed between the Gold-MSI subscales and the Go/Nogo Test.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest a potential link between musical sophistication and executive functions, highlighting the need for further research to explore the incorporation of musical activities or training into interventions or rehabilitation programs targeting executive function enhancement. Moreover, focusing on understudied populations, such as the Moroccan population from North Africa, emphasizes the cultural context and can pave the way for culturally tailored interventions that harness the cognitive benefits of music.