Jazzed

According to new research through Johns Hopkins University, jazz musicians unconsciously switch off regions of the brain involved in self-censorship and fire up the area linked to self-expression. I think porn stars do the same.

The scientists scanned the brains of jazz musicians as they played a specially-designed piano keyboard and found that a region of the brain known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex showed a slowdown in activity during improvisation. The researchers also saw increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, an area has been linked with self-expression and activities that convey individuality.

“Jazz is often described as being an extremely individualistic art form. You can figure out which jazz musician is playing because one person’s improvisation sounds only like him or her,” says professor Charles Limb. “What we think is happening is when you’re telling your own musical story, you’re shutting down impulses that might impede the flow of novel ideas.”

Nerd out on the paper, or check out some science in action:

Thelonious Monk - "Blue Monk"



McCoy Tyner - "My Favorite Things"



Art Tatum - "Yesterdays"



Bill Evans - "Autumn Leaves"