Self-directed music play to improve executive function in young children using NIRS.

Play is fundamental to child development, with evidence highlighting its crucial role in enhancing executive function (EF). However, the neural mechanisms underlying play-based cognitive improvements remain poorly understood. Here, we examine how music play influences behavioral performance and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity in preschoolers using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In a randomized controlled trial, 57 three-year-olds participated in either an Orff-Schulwerk-based music play program emphasizing creative self-expression (n = 27) or a control program (n = 30). The music play group showed modest improvements in inhibitory control tasks compared to the control group. Notably, fNIRS measurements revealed distinct patterns of neural activation between groups: the control group exhibited increased PFC activation during the post-test, whereas the music play group maintained stable neural activity levels, suggesting enhanced neural efficiency. These findings demonstrate that different types of activities are associated with distinct patterns of behavioral improvement and neural activity changes in young children. These results offer new insights into how play-based interventions shape cognitive and neural development and highlight promising directions for early childhood education programs to foster cognitive development.