Does music training improve inhibition control in children? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Early childhood / preschool Primary school (grades 1–6) Music and arts training Metacognition and self-regulation
Links to claims
Limits (2)
| Claim | Basis |
|---|---|
| C30 | Full text: 8 participant-randomised trials with active controls, inhibitory control g = 0.60 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.82; I² = 0%); 22 studies g = 0.31. One executive function, immediate post-tests, no academic outcome. C30 killed 2026-11-05 (Jonatan's decision; first logged as a narrowing). |
| C35 | Inhibitory control g = 0.60 in 8 active-controlled RCTs: the named exception; killed C30. |
Review state: first-pass draft, pending human review.
Source note
Syntes: Jamey et al. (2024) — music training improves children's inhibitory control in randomised trials with active controls (g = 0.60)
Källa: Jamey, K., Foster, N. E. V., Hyde, K. L. & Dalla Bella, S. (2024). Does music training improve inhibition control in children? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cognition 252, 105913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105913
Verified content
- [full text] 22 longitudinal studies with a control group (1980–2023), 1,734 children aged 3–11 (mean about 5 years 8 months); outcomes flanker, go/no-go, Stroop or preschool versions; one effect size per study, from the measure the authors judged most suitable.
- [full text] 8 trials randomised at participant level with active (non-music) control training: g = 0.60 (SE 0.11, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.82, p < .0001; I² = 0%); robust across rho (0.55 to 0.60).
- [full text] All 22 studies (active and passive controls): g = 0.31 (SE 0.07, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.44); I² = 27%. Moderators: setting (p = .047), control type (active higher than passive, p = .022), RCT vs not (RCTs higher, p = .002); age and training intensity not significant.
- [full text] No funnel asymmetry; Egger p > .33. All studies rated "moderate" quality (Cochrane); none blinded.
Limits
- [assessment] One executive function only; no academic or broad cognitive outcomes. Post-tests right after mostly short programmes. Measure selection per study gives the analysts some freedom.
- [full text] The authors note that playing music itself uses inhibition, so whether this is near or far transfer is debated.
- [assessment] Tested C30's kill line on 2026-11-05: met for inhibitory control only; C30 weakened with inhibitory control named as an exception.
Why it is in the library
The strongest randomised, active-controlled evidence that music training transfers to a non-music thinking skill in children.
Added 2026-11-05 by the project (nightly attacks; read: full text). [abstract] = from the published abstract; [full text] = read in the full text; [assessment] = the project's own assessment.
Metadata as recorded
- ID
- EXP-011
- Tier
- meta
- Titel
- Does music training improve inhibition control in children? A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Författare
- Jamey, K., Foster, N. E. V., Hyde, K. L. & Dalla Bella, S.
- År
- 2024
- Källa/DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105913
- Tidskrift
- Cognition 252, 105913
- Typ
- systematic review and meta-analysis (22 longitudinal studies with controls, N = 1,734, ages 3–11; 8 participant-randomised trials with active controls)
- Åldersgrupp
- foralder-tidig-barndom;grundskola-lag
- Teman
- musik-och-konstutbildning;metakognition-och-sjalvreglering
- Hämtad
- 2026-11-05
- Paywall
- paywalled at Elsevier; free authors' copy on the lab site; bioRxiv preprint (CC BY-NC-ND)
- Verifierad
- Crossref/PubMed metadata (title, authors, Cognition 252, 105913, November 2024, PMID 39197250) checked 2026-11-05; numbers from the full text
- Tillagd
- nightly-attacks 2026-11-05 (kind: new); links pending human review
The original files (PDF or abstract) are kept in the project archive and are not published here.