To relate individual differences in music perception ability with whole brain white matter connectivity, we scanned a group of 27 individuals with varying degrees of musical training and assessed musical ability in sensory and sequential music perception domains using the Profile of Music Perception Skills-Short version (PROMS-S). Sequential processing ability was estimated by combining performance on tasks for Melody, Standard Rhythm, Embedded Rhythm, and Accent subscores while sensory processing ability was ascertained via tasks of Tempo, Pitch, Timbre, and Tuning. Controlling for musical training, gender, and years of training, network-based statistics revealed positive linear associations between total PROMS-S scores and increased interhemispheric fronto-temporal and parieto-frontal white matter connectivity, suggesting a distinct segregated structural network for music perception. Secondary analysis revealed two subnetworks for sequential processing ability, one comprising ventral fronto-temporal and subcortical regions and the other comprising dorsal fronto-temporo-parietal regions. A graph-theoretic analysis to characterize the structural network revealed a positive association of modularity of the whole brain structural connectome with the d′ total score. In addition, the nodal degree of the right posterior cingulate cortex also showed a significant positive correlation with the total d′ score. Our results suggest that a distinct structural network of connectivity across fronto-temporal, cerebellar, and cerebro-subcortical regions is associated with music processing abilities and the right posterior cingulate cortex mediates the connectivity of this network.

中文翻译：

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结构连通性预测音乐感知能力的顺序处理差异

为了将音乐感知能力的个体差异与全脑白质连接联系起来，我们扫描了一组 27 名接受不同程度音乐训练的人，并使用音乐感知技能简介 - 简短版本评估了感官和连续音乐感知领域的音乐能力（舞会-S）。顺序处理能力是通过结合旋律、标准节奏、嵌入式节奏和重音子分数的任务表现来估计的，而感官处理能力是通过速度、音高、音色和调音任务来确定的。控制音乐训练、性别和训练年数后，基于网络的统计数据显示，总 PROMS-S 分数与增加的半球间额颞叶和顶额叶白质连通性之间存在正线性关联，为音乐感知提出了一个独特的分离结构网络。二次分析揭示了连续处理能力的两个子网络，一个包括腹侧额颞和皮层下区域，另一个包括背侧额颞顶区域。表征结构网络的图论分析揭示了整个大脑结构连接组的模块化与 d' 总分的正相关。此外，右侧后扣带回皮层的结节度也与总d'评分呈显着正相关。我们的结果表明，在额颞叶、小脑、