Difficulty perceiving and remembering music, hearing a wrong note, singing in tune… Amusia is an often congenital disorder which affects 1 to 2% of the world’s population.
Amusia is a deficit in the perception and production of music. People who suffer from it are called “amusic”. For some of them, the music can be compared to a foreign language or simply “to noise”. Discovery of this very particular anomaly with Barbara Tillmann, CNRS research director, at the Laboratory for the Study of Learning and Development, CNRS-UMR 5022, University of Burgundy.
What are the symptoms of amusia?
Amusement refers to a lack of perception of music which manifests itself while functions related to language, cognition in general and hearing are normal. A fun person encounters difficulties:
- To distinguish the pitch of notes (difference between low and high sounds)
- To recognize a false note
- To perceive and memorize a melody
- To sing in tune
A rare anomaly? How many cases in France?
“We cannot answer this question specifically for France. It is estimated – in general – that approximately 1-2% of the population may have congenital amusia. The first estimate was 4% but more recent estimates are more like 1-2%. As for acquired fun, we do not currently have figures“, says Barbara Tillmann.
What is the cause of amusia?
The fun can be congenital (in other words present from birth) or manifest following a brain lesion (we speak of amusia acquired). Congenital amusia is not due to cognitive learning disorder or hearing disorder or lack of exposure to music, but could be linked to a functional and structural neuronal anomaly. Indeed, research comparing groups of amusic and non-music people suggests altered processing of musical information in the frontal cortex and in the auditory cortex in fun. These areas of the brain would contain a reduced amount of white matter and an excess of gray matter. A communication anomaly between the frontal cortex and the auditory cortex would also be linked to these difficulties in perceiving music.
What test to make the diagnosis of amusia?
Amusia can be detected in children and adults using specific tests, such as the music listening test developed by BRAMS (International Research Laboratory on Brain, Music and Sound) of Montreal. “On the other hand, brain imaging is currently not used to detect amusia at the individual level”estimates the researcher.
Can amusia be cured?
As congenital amusia is even less known compared to other neurodevelopmental disorders, there is currently no specific rehabilitation strategy. “But as research allows us to better understand the phenomenon, recent studies are beginning to explore training avenues for rehabilitation perspectives. Our study recently carried out at the Lyon Neurosciences Research Center allows us to consider training options for sound processing aimed at improving musical perception.“, rejoices the specialist.
Thanks to Barbara Tillmann, CNRS research director, at the Laboratory for the Study of Learning and Development, CNRS-UMR 5022, University of Burgundy