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Enhanced Cognitive Processing in Musicians: A Comparative ERP Study of Executive Functions

Poster Session C - Sunday, March 8, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 pm PDT, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballroom

Manal LAMOUINE¹ (), Jannifer A. Bugos²; ¹Al Akhawayn University Ifrane, ²University of South Florida

This study investigates the influence of musical training on executive functions through a comparative analysis of event-related potential (ERP) components between musicians and non-musicians. A cohort of young adults (25 musicians and 25 non-musicians) completed the cognitive measures, including the TMT, Digit Span, Digit Coding, and a Stroop test, while neural activity was recorded using a 64-channel BioSemi ActiveTwo EEG system. Behavioral data revealed that musicians exhibited faster reaction times and higher accuracy, particularly in incongruent trials. No significant group differences were observed in other cognitive measures; however, musicians demonstrated significantly quicker completion times on TMT A and B. Preliminary grand-average ERP analysis, using independent-samples t-tests, revealed that non-musicians exhibited a stronger negative ERP response after presenting the incongruent stimulus ( Window 0-150 ms), particularly at the Central channel. The mean ERP amplitude was -0.184 µV for non-musicians compared to -0.774 µV for musicians, with a statistically significant difference. In addition, musicians demonstrated significantly higher ERP activity, with a mean amplitude of 0.977 µV at the Centro-parietal channels, compared to 0.007 µV in non-musicians in the time window (-100 to 0 ms) before the correct response to the incongruent stimulus, suggesting higher preparation of processing and preparing for the correct response. Additionally, musicians exhibited a prominent P3b ERP component at T8, P7, O1, and O2 during incongruent trials, reflecting enhanced attentional allocation and sensory integration. The N2 component at AF3, AF4, F3, and F4 further underscores superior conflict monitoring and cognitive control in musicians. Keywords: ERPs, Executive Functions, Musicianship, EEG

Topic Area: METHODS: Electrophysiology