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Abstract

Background Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to investigate correlations between fractional anisotropy (FA) maps with extracted behavioural results from a sensory motor synchronization (SMS) tapping experiment. In so doing, we explore white matter (WM) adaptations related to error correction in individuals with differing levels of musical experience. Methods Behavioural results for 29 healthy individuals (part of a larger cohort) who had taken part in the SMS experiment (based on Methods from Repp and Keller, 2008) were extracted and analysed. Subjects had varying degrees of musical experience and were divided into naive and experienced subgroups based on total years played and musical ensemble experience. DTI scans for these individuals were analysed and FA maps were created exploring correlations with behavioural estimates including an estimate of error correction. Results Comparisons of naive and experienced subgroups revealed significant differences (P<0.05) in behavioural error correction estimates both when splitting individuals based on total number of years of musical experience and ensemble experience. A similar trend, although not significant, was observed when individuals were divided based on the age at which they began musical tuition. Dividing the cohort based on ensemble experience, an FA regression analysis revealed a significant difference ( P<0.05, corrected) between naïve and experienced subgroups with unique activity in corpus callosum. Conclusions Results from this study further our understanding of the neural correlates of SMS and error correction. Observed corpus callosum activity confirms previous findings implicating this structure in learning and performance of movement sequences and increased training/experience-related WM plasticity.