There is a significant body of research that has identified specific, high-end cognitive demand activities and lifestyles that may play a role in building cognitive brain reserve, including volume changes in gray matter and white matter, increased structural connectivity, and enhanced categorical perception. While normal aging produces trends of decreasing white matter (WM) integrity, research on cognitive brain reserve suggests that complex sensory–motor activities across the life span may slow down or reverse these trends. Previous research has focused on structural and functional changes to the human brain caused by training and experience in both linguistic (especially bilingualism) and musical domains. The current research uses diffusion tensor imaging to examine the integrity of subcortical white matter fiber tracts in lifelong musicians. Our analysis, using Tortoise and ICBM-81, reveals higher fractional anisotropy, an indicator of greater WM integrity, in aging musicians in bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculi and bilateral uncinate fasciculi. Statistical methods used include Fisher’s method and linear regression analysis. Another unique aspect of this study is the accompanying behavioral performance data for each participant. This is one of the first studies to look specifically at musicianship across the life span and its impact on bilateral WM integrity in aging.

中文翻译：

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终身音乐水平对白色物质完整性和认知脑储备的影响

有大量研究已经确定了特定的高端认知需求活动和生活方式，这些活动和生活方式可能在建立认知脑储备中起作用，包括灰质和白质的体积变化，增强的结构连通性和增强的分类感知能力。虽然正常的衰老会导致白质（WM）完整性下降的趋势，但有关认知脑储备的研究表明，整个生命周期内复杂的感觉运动活动可能会减慢或逆转这些趋势。先前的研究集中在语言（尤其是双语）和音乐领域的培训和经验引起的人脑结构和功能变化上。当前的研究使用扩散张量成像来检查终生音乐家中皮层下白质纤维束的完整性。我们使用乌龟和ICBM-81进行的分析显示，在双边上纵向筋膜和双边未结膜筋的衰老音乐家中，分数各向异性较高，这是WM完整性更高的指标。使用的统计方法包括Fisher方法和线性回归分析。这项研究的另一个独特方面是每个参与者的伴随行为表现数据。这是专门针对整个生命周期的音乐水平及其对衰老中双边WM完整性的影响的首批研究之一。这项研究的另一个独特方面是每个参与者的伴随行为表现数据。这是专门针对整个生命周期的音乐水平及其对衰老中双边WM完整性的影响的首批研究之一。这项研究的另一个独特方面是每个参与者的伴随行为表现数据。这是专门针对整个生命周期的音乐水平及其对衰老中双边WM完整性的影响的首批研究之一。