The Creative mind…

Inspired by listening to interviews from the Prince’s former sound engineer (1983 to 1987) Susan Rogers whom in her latter years post Prince became aneuroscientist earning a PhD in her 50s on auditory memory.

Scientific research

Scientific research has demonstrated notable differences in brain structure and function between individuals who create music—such as composers and producers—and those who do not. These differences are attributed to the extensive training and practice involved in musical creation, leading to neuroplastic changes in the brain.

Structural Differences:

• Gray Matter Volume: Professional musicians exhibit increased gray matter volume in regions associated with motor control, auditory processing, and spatial coordination. Specifically, enhancements are observed in the primary motor and somatosensory areas, premotor areas, anterior superior parietal areas, and the inferior temporal gyrus on both sides of the brain. This suggests that the brains of musicians undergo use-dependent structural adaptations due to their musical training.

Functional Differences:

• Cortical Activation Patterns: Functional MRI studies have shown that professional pianists display lower levels of cortical activation in motor areas during complex finger movements compared to non-musicians. This indicates that musicians require fewer neurons to perform the same movements, likely as a result of long-term motor practice.

• Auditory-Motor Interactions: Musicians have a highly specialized cortical network that links musical gestures with their corresponding sounds. This network involves areas such as the right superior temporal gyrus, premotor cortex, inferior frontal and parietal areas, among others. These interactions are crucial for tasks like playing an instrument or composing music.

Cognitive Benefits:

• Verbal Memory: Studies have found that musicians tend to have a more developed left planum temporale and exhibit greater word memory. In controlled tests, musicians recalled more words than non-musicians, suggesting that musical training may enhance certain memory functions.

Therapeutic Applications:

• Music Therapy: The structural and functional brain changes associated with musical training have been harnessed in therapeutic settings. Music therapy has been used to retrain impaired brain circuits in various disorders, leveraging music’s ability to induce neuroplasticity and reshape neural networks.

In summary, the act of creating music leads to distinct neurological adaptations that not only enhance specific cognitive and motor functions but also offer potential therapeutic benefits for various neurological conditions.