Effect of Musical Training on Reaction Time: A Randomized Control Trial in Thai Elderly Individuals

Abstract

Musical training in leisure time has influenced the well-being and health of the elderly individuals, but the Thai elderly people spend more leisure time resting. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a musical training program on reaction times in the Thai elderly individuals. Healthy elderly individuals of both sexes with no musical background were randomly divided into one control group (n 1⁄4 30) and one experimental group (n 1⁄4 30). The control group did not receive the musical training program, but the experimental group received the musical training program for 7 weeks (20 minutes per week). Reaction times of the participants’ dominant index were measured during the first and seventh week. The experimental group had significantly faster visual and auditory reaction times than the control group in the seventh week. The musical training program promoted health accessibility and leisure participation for the Thai elderly individuals by improving their visual and auditory reaction time.