Evaluation of Electroencephalogram Signals of the Professional Pianists during Iconic Memory and Working Memory Tests Using Spectral Coherence

Abstract

Today, the neuroscience has growth in many aspects, and the effects of different factors on memory
obtained many achievements. Several scientifc and experimental studies evaluated effects of music
on style and behavior of people; in this study, we evaluated memory between two groups of people,
the professional pianists and normal people, through processing their electroencephalogram (EEG)
signals using the coherence measure. In this study, EEG signals from 17 subjects during two memory
tasks were recorded. After that, these signals were preprocessed, and spectral coherence connectivity
measure between pair of electrodes was computed and then compared in the fve frequency bands
using independent t‑test. Results of this statistical analysis for working memory task showed
signifcant differences in the temporal, central, and parietal lobes, especially in P7, P3, Pz, T8, C3,
and C4 electrodes. As we know, these differences are related to learned skills and activities, words
and sounds perception, and memory. Furthermore, for iconic memory task, signifcant differences
were observed in the right hemisphere of these two groups. From this task, we can say professional
pianists are different from normal people in the perception of images and creativity. Results of this
study show the effects of music on human brain and memory.