Wolfgang, You may be quoting from the study verbatim in which case it isn't your confusion I'm addressing. As usual, I expect I am missing something.

But first, you say: "Those of us with little or no aptitude (or, if you like, talent) for playing a musical instrument now have an excuse: our brains aren't built for it." Then you go on to say that the study's conclusion is that persistence is the reason for the musician's brain differences.

Which is it?