Auditory Deficits in Congenital Amusia (AMUSIE CONGENITALE)

Auditory Perceptual and Memory Deficits in Congenital Amusia: Studies of Cerebral Correlates With MEG, Anatomical MRI and Functional MRI

The project studies auditory deficits in congenital amusia at the behavioral and neurophysiological levels.

The auditory processes investigated are pitch discrimination, short-term memory, sound-induced emotions. To characterize auditory deficits in the amusic population, neuropsychological assessments are combined with neurophysiological markers (Electro-encephalography: EEG, Magneto-encephalography: MEG, Magnetic Resonance Imaging: MRI).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged from 18 to 70 years' old
• French
• Compatibility IRM / MEG (no metal in the body)
• Motivation to participate effectively in the project
• No neurological or psychiatric history
• No severe hearing loss
• Informed consent to participate in the study
• For Amusic participants: participant diagnosed amusic by the MBEA (Montreal Battery of Evaluation of Amusia)
• For Control participants: matched in age, sex, education, music education, laterality, non-amusic (controlled with the MBEA)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age below 18 or above 70
• Non-Francophone volunteers.
• MRI scanning not possible: artificial cardiac pacemaker, insulin pump, metallic prosthesis, intra-cerebral clip, claustrophobia
• MEG acquisition not possible: large heads, neurostimulator, metal in the head or the body.
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women