Sunday, March 02, 2008
This Is Your Brain on Jazz
Interesting new research on the brain science of jazz improvisation:
Ok, that's enough pondering. Let's take the data and extrapolate:
Given: When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex shuts down completely, the result is jazz improvisation.
Proposed Corollary 1:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but soaked in cheap gin, the result is blues improvisation.
Proposed Corollary 2:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but soaked in beer, the result is blues rock improvisation.
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but augmented with Southern Comfort and a drunk, barefoot, half-naked bridesmaid, the result is "Sweet Home Alabama."
Proposed Corollary 4:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but swimming in Irish whiskey, the result is "Danny Boy," followed by a fight.
Proposed Corollary 5:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is perforated by a 12" railroad spike, the result is "Cum On Feel The Noize."
- Scientists funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) have found that, when jazz musicians are engaged in the highly creative and spontaneous activity known as improvisation, a large region of the brain involved in monitoring oneÕs performance is shut down...
...researchers found that much of the change between improvisation and memorization occurred in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the frontal lobe of the brain that helps us think and problem-solve and that provides a sense of self. Interestingly, the large portion responsible for monitoring oneÕs performance (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) shuts down completely during improvisation...
Ok, that's enough pondering. Let's take the data and extrapolate:
Given: When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex shuts down completely, the result is jazz improvisation.
Proposed Corollary 1:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but soaked in cheap gin, the result is blues improvisation.
Proposed Corollary 2:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but soaked in beer, the result is blues rock improvisation.
- Proposed Sub-Set A to Corollary 2:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but augmented with beer and a drunken Best Man, the result is "Mustang Sally."
Proposed Sub-Set B to Corollary 2:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but augmented with Molson, the result is "Fly By Night."
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but augmented with Southern Comfort and a drunk, barefoot, half-naked bridesmaid, the result is "Sweet Home Alabama."
Proposed Corollary 4:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is partially functioning but swimming in Irish whiskey, the result is "Danny Boy," followed by a fight.
Proposed Corollary 5:
When the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is perforated by a 12" railroad spike, the result is "Cum On Feel The Noize."
