Resonate

Ever wonder why classical musicians and the cats that play jazz seem completely different? Well, there might be more than just a difference in their alcohol and drug intake (I’m sure there are sober jazzers out there somewhere).

In a statement released this weekend, Johns Hopkins University researchers announced that there’s something different going on in jazz musicians’ brains while they’re improvising.

Supposedly, jazz musicians’ brains turn off parts that are linked with inhibition and self-censoring while they’re playing:

The scientists found that a region of the brain known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a broad portion of the front of the brain that extends to the sides, showed a slowdown in activity during improvisation. This area has been linked to planned actions and self-censoring, such as carefully deciding what words you might say at a job interview. Shutting down this area could lead to lowered inhibitions, [researcher Charles J.] Limb suggests.

The researchers also saw increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, which sits in the center of the brain’s frontal lobe. This area has been linked with self-expression and activities that convey individuality, such as telling a story about yourself.