The Neuroergonomics of Music Proficiency and Performance

Abstract

This chapter addresses the nature of the interaction between musical behavior and underlying brain mechanisms. We address a series of relevant questions: (1) does neuroergonomics offer a legitimate scientific framework for understanding variability in musical behavior? (2) are there other scientific perspectives that complement or contradict the neuroergonomic perspective, in terms of understanding musical behavior? and (3) does musical behavior conform to the predictions of neuroergonomics and as such, represent an appropriate topic for this text? Our analysis supports the following conclusions: (1) regarding Questions 1 and 3, evidence for cognitive specialization, based on brain laterality, in the expression of musical behavior and talent, is aligned with the focus of neuroergonomics; but (2) nevertheless, based on studies of other modes of behavior, we also argue that there are a series of environmental design factors that also have the potential to influence variability in musical behavior, a phenomenon termed context specificity mediated by brain plasticity. Neuroergonomics, arguably, has not broadly embraced the idea that context specificity influences observed variability in behavior, including musical behavioral expression. Nevertheless, music also represents the only mode of artistic expression for which concrete empirical evidence exists for the neuroergonomic assumption that proficiency in musical talent must be understood in terms of cognitive specialization.