Brain scan to show if musicians think differently

21 August 2012, 12:58 | Updated: 21 August 2012, 13:00

A student violinist is to be given a brain scan to see if musicians and non-musicians hear differently.

A study at Birkbeck, University of London, aims to determine whether or not musicians and non-musicians hear things differently. Violinist Alice Didlick, 19, will undergo an MRI scan and listening sessions, which doctors hope will answer the age-old question of whether musicians' brains are different.

Didlick, who is a member of London's Ray Of Light Orchestra and hopes to attend music college next year, said: "I’m really looking forward to taking part in the study as it’s not an everyday opportunity."

The MRI scan itself will highlight any physical neurological differences between musicians and non-musicians. The study is the only one of its kind to be undertaken, hopes to prove whether or not musicians think in different ways using advance neurological analysis techniques.