Modularity allows classification of human brain networks during music and speech perception

Therapeutic music engagement is effective for improving cognitive health in patients suffering from neurological disease or trauma, however, little is known about the mechanism of action. Here, we investigated a means to quantify individual differences in functional brain activity while subjects listened to a variety of auditory pieces. Modularity was used to measure the degree to which functional activity within a group of brain regions was more highly correlated than activity between groups. We found consistent modules of the brain regions responsible for auditory processing among subjects, but differing whole-brain connection patterns and co-activation of regions responsible for autobiographical memory, prospection, and processing emotion ultimately led to differing modular structure. Significant trends were seen for individuals with higher or lower modularity during their self-selected musical piece. The use of modularity as a classifier of functional brain activity during auditory processing paves the way for creating personalized music therapy interventions and understanding how music benefits the brain.