Comparison of Functional Asymmetry of Cerebral Hemispheres in Dichotic Listening Condition in Old Musician and Non-Musician Listeners

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 \MSc Student in Audiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Associated Professor. Department of Audiology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistance Professor in Audiology. Member of Audiology Dep. School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 PhD of Biostatistics, Assistant Professor at University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. Tehran, Iran

5 PhD Student in Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: One of the most important capabilities of central auditory nervous system is dichotic listening processing, which undergoes changes with aging, similar to peripheral hearing. The results of the studies about comparison of functional asymmetry of cerebral hemispheres between musician and non-musician elderlies reveal advantages of musician old age in dichotic listening processing. In the present investigation, functional asymmetry of cerebral hemispheres is investigated in dichotic listening musician and non-musician elderlies with normal hearing using dichotic digit test.
Material and Methods: The current cross-sectional study was performed on 40 right-handed musician (N= 20) and non-musician (N= 20) elderlies aged 60 to 80 years with normal hearing using the Persian version of the dichotic digit test. Data was analyzed running independent t test and man-whitny test. Finally, the results of right and left ears were compared in Non-Forced Attention (NF), Forced Right (FR), and Forced Left (FL) attention conditions.
Results: Comparison of dichotic digit test results in divided attention condition showed significant difference between the two groups (p-value<0/001). Also, in FR and especially in FL conditions, there were significant differences for correct scores in both ears between musician and non-musician elderlies (p-value=0/001).
Conclusion: The results of the present study confirmed better function in musician elderlies compared with non-musician elderlies in divided attention and competitive environment particularly in FL attention condition. In fact, musician elderlies' desire to acquire information through both ears in noisy places, unlike their non-musician counterparts. Finally, musician elderlies showed lower hemispheric asymmetries with higher scores obtained in dichotic digit test.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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Volume 5, Issue 4
January and February 2017
Pages 120-127
  • Receive Date: 15 December 2015
  • Revise Date: 03 May 2016
  • Accept Date: 07 May 2016
  • First Publish Date: 21 December 2016