Intergenerational musical activities: implications for cognitive and academic performance and psychosocial well-being

Intergenerational musical activities have demonstrated remarkable potential for promoting cognitive, academic, and psychosocial well-being throughout the lifespan. Music, especially when practiced actively and synchronously, fosters physiological, cognitive, and emotional regulation processes.1,2 This article aims to analyze, through a systematic literature review, the effects of intergenerational musical activities on children’s cognitive and academic performance, as well as on the psychosocial well-being and cognitive functions of older adults. The review’s findings suggest that rhythmic synchronization, and in particular the relationship between musical rhythm and heart rate, constitutes a key mechanism for explaining the observed benefits.3,4 It is concluded that intergenerational musical activities represent an effective and sustainable strategy for promoting cognitive, emotional, and social health in educational, community, and social care settings.