In the current longitudinal study, we investigated the development of working memory in musically trained and nontrained children and adolescents, aged 9-20. We measured working memory with the Digit Span (DS) forwards and backwards tests (N = 106) and the Trail-Making A and B (TMT-A and B; N = 104) tests three times, in 2011, 2013, and 2016. We expected that musically trained participants would outperform peers with no musical training. Indeed, we found that the younger musically trained participants, in particular, outperformed their nontrained peers in the TMT-A, TMT-B and DS forwards tests. These tests all primarily require active maintenance of a rule in memory or immediate recall. In contrast, we found no group differences in the backwards test that requires manipulation and updating of information in working memory. These results suggest that musical training is more strongly associated with heightened working memory capacity and maintenance than enhanced working memory updating, especially in late childhood and early adolescence.

中文翻译：

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有选择地增强受过音乐训练的儿童和青少年的工作记忆发展。

在当前的纵向研究中，我们调查了 9-20 岁受过音乐训练和未受过音乐训练的儿童和青少年的工作记忆发展情况。我们在 2011 年、2013 年和 2016 年通过数字跨度 (DS) 向前和向后测试 (N = 106) 以及 Trail-Making A 和 B (TMT-A 和 B; N = 104) 测试测量了三次工作记忆.我们预计受过音乐训练的参与者会比没有受过音乐训练的参与者表现更好。事实上，我们发现受过音乐训练的年轻参与者在 TMT-A、TMT-B 和 DS 前向测试中的表现尤其优于未受过训练的同龄人。这些测试都主要需要主动维护记忆中的规则或立即回忆。相比之下，我们在需要操作和更新工作记忆信息的向后测试中没有发现群体差异。这些结果表明，与增强工作记忆更新相比，音乐训练与提高工作记忆容量和维持的关系更为密切，特别是在儿童晚期和青春期早期。