Nottingham OPM-MEG study: beta rhythm rises in 22 novices after a single violin lesson

Researchers at the University of Nottingham used a wearable optically pumped magnetometer magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) system to record brain activity in 22 novice players as they tried to play a tune on a violin, according to a study in Imaging Neuroscience doi.orgImaging Neurosciencedoi.orgOpen source ↗. Data were recorded in two scanning sessions, with a lesson from an expert teacher between them doi.orgImaging Neurosciencedoi.orgOpen source ↗.

Wooden violin and wearable scanner

The OPM-MEG sensors are built into a lightweight helmet connected to a backpack-mounted control unit, so participants can move naturally. A conventional violin contains metal parts that would interfere with the measurements. Violin maker Alan Kirby therefore replaced every metal part of a standard instrument with parts he made himself, producing an entirely wooden violin.

Before the first session, all participants watched a video of Kirby playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and then attempted to play the same melody. Kirby also gave the lesson between the sessions.

The analysis focused on beta oscillations. They are linked to long-range connectivity within canonical networks, to inhibition of sensorimotor cortices and to maintaining a stable sensorimotor state when the external world is predictable doi.orgImaging Neurosciencedoi.orgOpen source ↗.

Beta power after the lesson

The authors report that robust data could be acquired during this naturalistic task. Beta amplitude decreased during movement and increased when movement stopped, as expected doi.orgImaging Neurosciencedoi.orgOpen source ↗. After the lesson, beta power during playing in motor and pre-motor areas was significantly higher than before, and the movement-related modulation of beta amplitude was more pronounced doi.orgImaging Neurosciencedoi.orgOpen source ↗.

The authors say these findings align with predictive coding models, which suggest that beta amplitude should increase when a person is more certain about the movements being carried out doi.orgImaging Neurosciencedoi.orgOpen source ↗. According to the university's account of the work, participants with the largest change in beta activity between sessions also showed the greatest improvement in playing. The findings do not establish that the neural changes caused the improvement.

Professor Matthew Brookes, who leads OPM-MEG development at Nottingham, noted that some of the measured effects are among those that can be affected by disorders such as dementia. He said he hopes such studies will contribute to understanding both healthy brain function and disease. The study adds to the literature on beta oscillations and supports the use of OPM-MEG in naturalistic neuroscience doi.orgImaging Neurosciencedoi.orgOpen source ↗.