Music reinforces the development of brain networks of very premature babies

Almost 1% of children are born very prematurely in Switzerland. However, recent progress has given them a good chance of survival. Nevertheless, children are at high risk of developing neuropsychological disorders.

Scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland, have come up with a musical solution for these babies. The most fascinating result is that the results reveal that neural networks of premature babies who have listened to this music, and in particular a network involved in many sensory and cognitive functions, are developing much better.

Scientists begin with a practical idea: since the neural deficits of premature babies are due, at least in part, to unexpected and stressful stimuli and a lack of stimuli appropriate to their condition, their environment needs to be enriched. by introducing stimuli factors.

Petra Hüppi said: "Since the auditory system was operational from the beginning, the music seemed to be a good candidate. But what music? Fortunately, we met the composer Andreas Vollenweider, who had already conducted musical projects with vulnerable populations and who had shown great interest in creating music suitable for premature children. "

Lara Lordier, Ph.D. In neuroscience and researcher at HUG and UNIGE, "It was important that these musical stimuli be related to the baby's condition. We wanted to organize the day with pleasant stimulants at the appropriate times: music to accompany their wake up, music to accompany their sleep, and music to interact during the waking phases. "

"In order to choose instruments suitable for these very young patients, Andreas Vollenweider played many types of instruments to babies, in the presence of a nurse specializing in developmental support care. The instrument that elicited the most reactions is the flute of Indian snake charmers (punji). The very restless children calmed down almost instantly, their music caught their attention! The composer has therefore written three eight-minute sound environments, with pieces of punji, harp and bells. "

Scientists conducted this study with a group of premature music listeners, a control group of premature infants and a control group of full-term infants, to determine whether brain development of premature babies who listened to music would be more effective . similar to full-term babies. Using functional MRI, scientists observed cerebral activity. They found that without music, the functional connectivity between the brain areas of premature babies was generally lower than that of full-term babies, confirming the negative effect of prematurity.

Lara Lordier said, "The most impacted network is the salient network that detects information and badesses its relevance at a given time, and then establishes the link with other brain networks that need to act. This network is essential, both for learning and performing cognitive tasks, as well as in social relationships or emotional management. "

In intensive care, children are overwhelmed by stimuli independent of their condition: doors opening and closing, ringing the alarm, etc. Unlike a full-term baby who, in utero, adapts his pace to that of his mother, the premature in intensive treatment care can hardly develop the connection between the meaning of a stimulus in a specific context.

On the other hand, the neural networks of children listening to the music of Andreas Vollenweider have been greatly improved: the functional connectivity between the salience network and the auditory, sensorimotor, frontal, thalamus and preconeus networks. has been improved, which has led to an organization closer to brain networks. that of full-term infants.

The first children enrolled in the project are now 6 years old. Cognitive problems begin to be detectable. Scientists will now meet again with their young patients to conduct a full cognitive and socio-emotional badessment and determine whether the positive outcomes measured in their first weeks of life have been maintained.

The study is published in the journal PNAS and funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, as well as, among others, by the Prim'Enfance Foundation.