Orchestra in Class, a Novel Booster for Executive Functions and Brain Development in Young Primary School Children

Launched by SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES GENEVA · Jun 12, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The "Orchestra in Class" clinical trial is studying how learning to play a musical instrument might help improve important brain skills called executive functions in young children. Executive functions include skills like planning, paying attention, and controlling impulses. Researchers want to see if children who learn music perform better in these areas compared to those who participate in other art forms or those who do not engage in any arts at all. This study will involve children in the 3rd and 4th grades, ages 6 to 8, over a two-year period, using advanced techniques to track changes in their brain development and behavior.

To be eligible for the trial, children need to be right-handed, speak French, and be able to understand and agree to participate, with their parents' written consent. However, children with certain conditions, like severe hearing or vision problems, or those who have taken music or art classes in the past year, will not be included. Participants will have the chance to explore music while contributing to valuable research that could help understand how different activities influence brain development in kids.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • School grade 3P/4P (3rd and 4th year of elementary school (6-8-year-old children)
• • Right-handedness
• • Sufficient Mastery of the French Language
• • Able to give oral informed consent (child)
• • Able to give written informed consent (parent)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Non-consent (children and or parents)
• • Repeated or skipped a class with respect to standard curriculum
• • Not corrected/severe hearing deficits
• • Not corrected/severe vision deficits
• • Severe neurodevelopmental disorders (eg. severe dyslexia, severe ADHD)
• • Older than 7 at the beginning of the school year if 3P
• • Older than 8 at the beginning of the school year if 4P
• • Protocolled music instrumental practice in the preceding year
• • Protocolled visual arts courses in the preceding year
• • MRI incompatibility (physical or psychological)
• • Psychometric battery incompatibility (psychological)