I.G. Meistera,*, T. Kringsb, H. Foltysa, B. Boroojerdia, M. Mu¨ llera, R. To¨ppera, A. Thronb Cognitive Brain Research 19 (2004) 219– 228

Introduction: Read notes & play piano = very complex motor task Notereading: Visual spatial domain  program with info Musical syntax  MUSIC!

Introduction: Rehearse skills with practice MENTAL IMAGERY Performance MOTOR IMAGERY: mental stimulation of action in *Visuomotor system

Motor Imagery & Motor Action Similar timing Involve same muscles in corticospinal excitability Proven in fMRI studies (Fadiga, 1999)

Experimental Task: Aim: Investigate cortical network during performance & imagery of music 12 music academy students Use an electronic keyboard that produced no sounds Play the right hand part of a Bartok piece Before fMRI, subject practiced until familiar

Performance: Imagery: Subjects played the presented music with their RH on the keyboard Instructed to read the notes & imagine themselves playing the presented music Not moving their hands Watched by videocamera

After fMRI-session Completed a questionnaire about their sensations during the conditions Rated the difficulty of the piano piece Filled out the “Vividness of Mental Imagery Questionnaire”

Results: Both: bilateral frontoparietal network, precuneus, medial of BA 40 Performance: contralateral PMC, posterior parietal cortex bilaterally Imagery: bilaterally extrastriate cortex

Discussion: Comparing pixels, imagery= smaller The differences in accordance with prior studies SMA & PMC activated predominantly in left hemisphere Reflects the roles: motor execution Posterior parietal cortex  visuomotor transformation Precuneus  working memory processes Cerebellum  crucial for motor imagery; motor/rhythm timing & coordination many more structures

Conclusion: Performance & imagery: FRONTOPARIETAL NETWORK: motor imagery & visuomotor association OCCIPITAL NETWORK: notereading Greater fMRI activation in performance At posterior parietal areas & Primary sensorimotor cortices Reflects higher level of visuomotor integration Whole activated network- rhythms, pitch discrimination

Strengths: Very precise & controlled Studied a lot of different networks in the brain Limitations: None?

My Opinions: Very interesting paper since I’m also a pianist Would there be a difference in RH- Dominant players and LH- Dominant players? What about those gifted children? 6 yrs old who can play &compose like Mozart?

Professional vs Beginner VS