Differences in Simple Auditory Reaction Times Between Long- Term Trained Right-Handed Pianists and Age-Matched Non- Musicians

This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term piano training on auditory reaction times (RTs) and inter-hand performance symmetry in response to fixed and random auditory stimuli in right-handed individuals. In this study, we measured the reaction times of the right and left hands of right-handed pianists (n = 10) and age-matched right-handed non-musicians (n = 20) in response to both fixed and random auditory stimuli. Reaction times of both right and left hands were recorded using a standardized auditory RT assessment system. Pianists demonstrated significantly shorter right-hand reaction times than non-pianists for both random (p = 0.0012) and fixed stimuli (p = 0.0212).Within-group comparisons showed significant random–fixed differences for the right hand in both pianists (p = 0.0443) and non-pianists (p = 0.0364). Hand comparison analyses revealed no significant right–left difference among pianists in response to random stimuli (p = 0.9268), while non-pianists responded significantly faster with the left hand (p = 0.0296). Under fixed-stimulus conditions, pianists’ right hand was significantly faster than the left (p = 0.0075). These findings may be explained by the right hemisphere's speed in sensory-motor integration and attention.