Audio Transcript:
(SOUND EFFECT: Highbrow classical music) And Now, For the Discriminating Listener.
I'm Bob Karson with the discovery files -- new advances in science and engineering from the National Science Foundation.
(SOUND EFFECT: crowd, noisy bar) (SOUND EFFECT: almost shouting) I'm at this noisy downtown bar to prove a point -- that in these conditions, some people can hear (SOUND EFFECT: crowd noise drops) much (SOUND EFFECT: quiet voice) better than others. According to new research out of Northwestern University, musicians may fare much better at discerning speech over the noise (funny a lot of my musician friends claim some sort of hearing loss). The new study focuses on musicians' ability to hear and understand specific sounds within a rich tapestry of other sounds.
The ability is a learned one. Over the years, musical training fine tunes the circuitry of the nervous system -- so things like pitch, timing, and the spectral elements of sound are represented more precisely in the brains of musicians. Whether it's a crowded room (SOUND EFFECT: crowd, noisy) or a concert hall (SOUND EFFECT: music), the musician has learned to hear and perceive differently.
The research team tested both musicians and non-musicians by having them repeat sentences they heard with varying amounts of background noise. People with musical experience did better overall. The scientists say the results underscore the importance of musical education for the general public.
The research could lead to new ways of using musical training to help those with auditory processing disorders, or addressing certain linguistic or reading difficulties.
And that should be music to all of our ears.
"The Discovery Files" covers projects funded by the government's National Science Foundation. Federally sponsored research -- brought to you, by you! Learn more at nsf.gov or on our podcast.
