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NCT Number: NCT05502939

Music Training and Child Development Study

This proposed study aims to provide a definitive answer to whether music training benefits brain development, particularly brain inhibition control circuitry and its related health outcomes using a randomized control trial design.

In the study, 114 children between ages 6-8 from Los Angeles will be randomly assigned to a 24-month:(1) community-focused after school music training group focused on a traditional strings curriculum at the Colburn school in Los Angeles (MG) or (2) a control group (CG) after-school program comprising of visual arts, book club, ethnic and cultural studies and theater without specific focus on systematic music training or sports. Imaging data will be collected at before and after the intervention (24 months), behavioral assessments will be conducted before the intervention and yearly afterwards, and mid-intervention evaluations will be performed every six months throughout the study.

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Key information

Conditions

Music

Age range

6 year–8 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Brain and Creativity Institute

Los Angeles, California, 90089, United States

About this study

The investigators will use an RCT design to investigate effects of a music training intervention on brain inhibition control circuitry. Throughout R61(N=40) and R33 (N=74) phases, 114 children between ages 6-8 from communities with limited resources in Los Angeles will be randomly assigned to a 24-month: (1) community-focused after school music training group focused on a traditional strings curriculum at the Colburn school in Los Angeles (MG) or (2) a control group (CG) after-school program comprising of visual arts, book club, ethnic and cultural studies and theater without specific focus on systematic music training or sports. Imaging data will be collected at before and after the intervention (24 months), behavioral assessments will be conducted before the intervention and yearly afterwards, and mid-intervention evaluations will be performed every six months throughout the study.

The investigators anticipate that the R61 phase will take 2 years and R33 will take 3 years to complete. The goal of the R61 phase is to evaluate the feasibility of executing the RCT. Comprehensive behavioral and imaging data will be collected at pre- and post-intervention, and mid-intervention evaluations will be performed every six months throughout the study. The combined R61/R33 phases will include 114 participants and will ultimately provide much needed guidance on the development of larger trials in the field.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • normal IQ (standard score of >85 in the Abbreviated Wechsler's Scale of Intelligence)
  • Living in LA within 2 miles radius of the location of the music and the afterschool programs
  • limited resources as defined by the Hollingshead Index cumulative score below 29
  • ages 6-8

Exclusion criteria

  • current diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disorders
  • prior engagement in formal and systematic music training for more than 6 months
  • previous or current diagnosis of severe hearing loss defined as air conduction thresholds greater than 60 dB HL through 8 kHz or- severe vision loss that is not correctable with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses
  • non-removable, non-MRI compatible body parts
  • Claustrophobia

Treatment and study plan

Music Program

Behavioral

The cohort of students entering the program at the Colburn school in Los Angeles will be a part of a traditional strings curriculum. Students will join the program on a full scholarship and will be provided all materials necessary for instruction, including an instrument. Students will attend Colburn twice a week in a group setting and will receive private instruction once a week.

The program will last 2, 15-week semesters (fall, spring) for 2-years. There will be 2 groups of 10 students. Students will undergo group instruction for 1 hour, 2 times a week and private instruction for 45 minutes, once a week.

After School Enrichment Program

Behavioral

The afterschool program will be led by instructors and will include visual arts, theater, and general cultural studies. Students attend the program 3 days per week in the afternoon for 1 hour long lessons. Students will take part in an end of the year celebration to share their work with family and community members.

Primary outcomes

  1. brain inhibition control networks

    Time frame: 24 months

    The primary outcome will be %change in blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal in the brain frontal circuits including the DLPFC, ACC and pre-SMA/SMA evaluated during the two inhibition control tasks.

Secondary outcomes

  1. inhibition control as measured by reaction time

    Time frame: 24 months

    Stop signal reaction time during stop signal task

  2. inhibition control as measured by delayed gratification

    Time frame: 24 months

    discounting rate from delay gratification task

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Southern California

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Music Training on Neurodevelopment and Associated Health Outcomes

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 16, 2022
Registry last updated
Nov 13, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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