Music and Math: Examining the relationship between music training and numeracy in school-aged children

2025 · doi:10.22541/au.174301039.93419544/v1
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This preprint studied whether past music training relates to numeracy performance and neural responses in school-aged children, using magnetoencephalography (MEG) during a numeracy task compared between a small group of children with low versus high prior music training. Sixteen children aged 8–12 were divided by past music training, and the study found a broad network activation during the numeracy task along with significant differences in superior parietal cortex activity between the low and high music training groups (d = 0.81–1.08), with parietal activations positively correlated with spatial perception (r = 0.58–0.78). The authors note a major caveat that the work is a preprint and not peer reviewed, with potentially preliminary data. This paper does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

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Abstract

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Music incorporates a number of mathematical concepts and this overlap in concepts between music and math underlies the supposition that music training (MT) may facilitate math performance. This study examined neural responses while school-aged children performed a numeracy task to test a link between past MT, neural signatures, and math skills. Sixteen children (7 females) 8-12 years of age (44% Hispanic, 12% Black or African American, 6% Asian, 50% Non-Hispanic, White) were divided into two groups based on past MT. Neural responses, measured with magnetoencephalography (MEG), were collected during a numeracy task and compared by MT group. There was a broad network of activation during the numeracy task relative to the control task consistent with adult studies. Superior parietal cortex revealed significant differences in neural activation in Low versus High MT groups (d = 0.81-1.08). Also, parietal activations were positively correlated with spatial perception (r=0.58-0.78). The results align with adult studies implicating parietal cortex as a hub for math skills and provide additional preliminary support for a synergistic link between music and math.
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Abstract

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Music incorporates a number of mathematical concepts and this overlap in concepts between music and math underlies the supposition that music training (MT) may facilitate math performance. This study examined neural responses while school-aged children performed a numeracy task to test a link between past MT, neural signatures, and math skills. Sixteen children (7 females) 8-12 years of age (44% Hispanic, 12% Black or African American, 6% Asian, 50% Non-Hispanic, White) were divided into two groups based on past MT. Neural responses, measured with magnetoencephalography (MEG), were collected during a numeracy task and compared by MT group. There was a broad network of activation during the numeracy task relative to the control task consistent with adult studies. Superior parietal cortex revealed significant differences in neural activation in Low versus High MT groups (d = 0.81-1.08). Also, parietal activations were positively correlated with spatial perception (r=0.58-0.78). The results align with adult studies implicating parietal cortex as a hub for math skills and provide additional preliminary support for a synergistic link between music and math. Supplementary Material File (numeracymanuscript_forsubmission_icd_anon.docx) - Download - 925.30 KB Information & Authors Information Version history Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License.

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Authors Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 236views 97downloads Citations Download citation Julia Stephen, Maryam Alsameen, Cassandra Cerros, et al. Music and Math: Examining the relationship between music training and numeracy in school-aged children. Authorea. 26 March 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174301039.93419544/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174301039.93419544/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

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