Musical expertise affects neural bases of letter recognition

► Visual processing of notes and words was compared in 15 professional musicians and 15 controls. ► ERPs were recorded during note and letter detection tasks and swLORETA was applied to ERP effects. ► Letter processing (involving the fusiform and inferior occipital gyri) was strongly left-lateralized in controls. ► The same areas were bilaterally activated in both hemispheres in musicians for both word and note processing.