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Forget suduko puzzles — its music that improves the little grey cells in the noggin

Research finds that brain training claims are the modern day equivalent of snake-oil salesmanship — but music making is the real deal.

Brain
  Making music has been proved to help improve cognitive performance

An interesting recent article in The Guardian newspaper (dated 24th October) has revealed that the multi-million dollar 'brain training' industry is coming under serious attack from eminent neuroscientists and psychologists suggesting that they exaggerate claims of improving mental health abilities.

Little evidence

However, in contrast to finding that such products provide 'little evidence…that training improves everyday cognitive performance' it does state that there is ample evidence that musical training certainly does.

Written by the respected journalist Mo Costandi, it showed that research has revealed that learning to play a musical instrument is beneficial for children and adults alike, and may even be helpful to patients recovering from brain injuries.

Unique

It also quoted neuropsychologist, Catherine Loveday of the University of Westminster, who stated: "Music probably does something unique. It stimulates the brain in a very powerful way, because of our emotional connection with it."

It goes on to say that early brain scanning studies revealed significant differences in brain structure between musicians and non-musicians of the same age.

Music probably does something unique. It stimulates the brain in a very powerful way, because of our emotional connection with itneuropsychologist, Catherine Loveday

Find out more

To find out more go to:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/oct/24/want-to-train-your-brain-forget-apps-learn-a-musical-instrument?CMP=fb_gu

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