We want to compare differences in brain activation among violinists with varying levels of expertise. The measurements will take place at the RITMO centre at UiO and are based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). This is a way to measure brain activity that can be done while you play. All you need is to wear a cap that measures using light reflected from the brain. No discomfort or risk is associated with participating in this type of study.
The goal is to examine 30 violinists/students, each of whom will play three etudes under three different conditions: (1) perform the etude in the usual way, (2) perform the etude by only thinking about playing, and (3) listen to a recording of the etudes. Participants will receive the sheet music and recordings of the etudes one week before the brain measurements. We want everyone to try to keep the same tempo as in the recordings and to practice performing the etudes while sitting.
Video and audio recordings will be made to examine details in the correspondence between what you do and what your brain shows us. The material will be treated confidentially, and only the researchers in the project will see the recordings. Completely anonymized data may be shared in connection with the publication of the results. The experiment takes about 1 hour. As a thank you for participating, you will receive a picture of a 3D model of your brain while you play and a gift card worth 200 NOK.
The study is conducted by Ph.D. candidate Steffen Fagerland under the supervision of Tor Endestad and Alexander Refsum Jensenius.