Congenital amusia: An auditory-motor feedback disorder?
Posted by Callier Library on November 2, 2007
from Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience
Purpose: Congenital amusia (tone deafness) is a disorder in which those affected typically complain of or are identified by their inability to sing in tune. A psychophysical and possibly surrogate marker of this condition is the inability to recognize deviations in pitch that are one semitone (100 cents) or less. The aim of our study was to identify candidate brain regions that might be associated with this disorder.
Methods: We used Voxel-Based-Morphometry (VBM) to correlate performance on a commonly used assessment tool, the Montreal Battery for the Evaluation of Amusia (MBEA), with local inter-individual variations in gray matter volumes across a large group of individuals (n=51) to identify brain regions potentially involved in the expression of this disorder.
Results: The analysis across the entire brain space revealed significant covariations between performance on the MBEA and inter-individual gray matter volume variations in the left superior temporal sulcus (BA 22) and the left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 47). The regression analyses identified subregions within the inferior frontal gyrus, and inferior portion of BA47 that correlated with performance on melodic subtests, while gray matter volume variations in a more superior subregion of BA47 correlated with performance on rhythmic subtests.
Conclusions: Our analyses demonstrate the existence of a left fronto-temporal network that appears to be involved in the melodic and rhythmic discrimination skills measured by the MBEA battery. These regions could also be part of a network that enable subjects to map motor actions to sounds including a feedback loop that allows for correction of motor actions (i.e., singing) based on perceptual feedback. Thus, it is conceivable that individuals with congenital amusia, or the inability to sing in tune, may actually have an impairment of the auditory-motor feedback loop and/or auditory-motor mapping system.
Marie said
I am amusic. I am also unable to move in time to music, or even in action involving following a leader such as tai chi and marching. I am also extremely clumsy. I am best spontaneously and worst in a crisis. For example if called to catch a ball I will miss but have twice caught young birds in flight in a reflex like action. The best description I can give is that my mind interferes between the stimulus to action and my response. It would be useful for the study of amusia as an auditory motor feedback disorder to find out if there is a correlation with such physical deficiencies and to know the subjective experience of people involved.