Musical training shapes spatial cognition

Abstract

Spatial cognition refers to the general ability to represent space, manipulate spatial information, and use concepts relating to this notion. Recent evidence suggests that brief multisensory training might improve this process, but the impact of long-term and intensive multisensory training on spatial cognition remains unexplored. The present study aims to examine the impact of musical training, a multisensory training involving the auditory function, on a body disorientation task with and without auditory cues. Thirty-eight participants were recruited and divided into two groups based on their musical experience (musicians and controls). They were asked to complete the Fukuda-Unterberger stepping task under four conditions: without any auditory input, and with auditory input originating at 0°, 45°, and 90° azimuth. This task is well known to create body disorientation as over the course of the task, the body position in space changes, unbeknownst to the participant. Results suggest that musicians are less susceptible to body disorientation, as measured in the stepping task, both in the absence and in the presence of auditory stimuli. The findings extend beyond recent research indicating that musical training can influence a wide range of auditory abilities, suggesting that it could also modulate a broader cognitive process, specifically spatial cognition. The demonstration that extensive multisensory training significantly enhances spatial cognition has relevance for rehabilitation in clinical settings.

Keywords: Auditory; Binaural cues; Body representation; Multisensory training; Musician; Spatial cognition.