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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.10.21.348243

Lateral prefrontal cortex as a hub for music production with gradation from structural rules to movement sequences

Bianco, R.·Novembre, G.·Ringer, H.·Kohler, N.·Keller, P. E.·Villringer, A.·Sammler, D.
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Abstract

Complex sequential behaviours, such as speaking or playing music, often entail the flexible, rule-based chaining of single acts. However, it remains unclear how the brain translates abstract structural rules into concrete series of movements. Here we demonstrate a multi-level contribution of anatomically distinct cognitive and motor networks to the execution of novel musical sequences. We combined functional and diffusion-weighted neuroimaging to dissociate high-level structural and low-level motor planning of musical chord sequences executed on a piano. Fronto-temporal and fronto-parietal neural networks were involved when sequences violated pianists structural or motor plans, respectively. Prefrontal cortex is identified as a hub where both networks converge within an anterior-to-posterior gradient of action control linking abstract structural rules to concrete movement sequences.

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Bianco, R., Novembre, G., Ringer, H., Kohler, N., Keller, P. E., Villringer, A., Sammler, D.. 2020-10-21. Lateral prefrontal cortex as a hub for music production with gradation from structural rules to movement sequences. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.21.348243

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