• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

This study examined the correlation between the rhythm reproduction performance and cognitive function of school-aged children. A total of 59 third grade elementary students participated in this study. An iPad-based rhythm reproduction task, the Digit Span Test (DST), the Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT), and a self-paced tapping task via a MIDI keyboard were conducted for each participant. The results demonstrated that scores at each stage of the iPad-based rhythm reproduction test showed different patterns of correlation with cognitive function test scores. This result suggests that accuracy of a simple rhythm task is correlated to speed of self-paced tapping (second). Also cognitive function may affect rhythm grouping ability. Results of this analysis for each of 20 rhythm items showed that there was a common rhythm characteristics that correlated with executive function, working memory or self-paced tapping speed. These results indicate that rhythm ability is related to, and predictive of, the level of cognitive functioning in elementary school students and can be used as an useful parameter when examining cognitive function of school-aged children in multifaceted dimensions.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-30
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to develop a rhythm-based music intervention protocol to enhance timing regulation in children with ADHD and investigate its feasibility. For this purpose, a three-phase study was conducted involving ADHD children and typically developing children. In the first phase, group-specific baseline measurements were taken for auditory attention (KAT), motor timing, and perceptual timing. In the second phase, a rhythm-based music intervention protocol incorporating key factors was developed. In the third phase, the developed protocol was applied to ADHD children to investigate the variables affecting timing regulation and to verify its effectiveness. Results from the first phase revealed significant differences in the timing values of children with ADHD, particularly in tasks requiring discrimination of sound duration and precision in rhythm patterns. Additionally, exploratory factor analysis of KAT results and motor/perceptual timing identified three clusters: attentional responsiveness, attentional synchronization, and attentional sophistication. In the second phase, a protocol consisting of tasks involving synchronization, attentional shifting, and rhythm production at various difficulty levels was developed and validated for expert validity. In the third phase, individual application of the protocol to children with predominantly inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD subtypes demonstrated changes in timing regulation tasks. This study provided basic data for using rhythm as an effective facilitation tool that leads from voluntary to involuntary attention in children with ADHD.