Brain "under jazz"

Brain "under jazz"

When jazz musicians improvise, areas of their brains that control self-censorship and neural inhibition are turned off, and areas that allow for self-expression are turned on instead.

A related study from Johns Hopkins University, involving volunteer musicians from the Peabody Institute and using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), shed light on the creative improvisation that artists use in everyday life.

Jazz musicians, when improvising, create their own unique riffs by turning off inhibitions and turning on creativity.

Scientists from the University of Medicine and the National Institute on Deafness say they are interested in the possible neurological basis of the trance-like state that jazz musicians enter when they begin spontaneous improvisations.

“When jazz musicians improvise, they often play with eyes closed in his characteristic style, demonstrating traditional rules of melody and rhythm,” says Charles J. Limb, professor of medicine and assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Cervical Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who is also an accomplished jazz saxophonist.

“This is a special mood of the soul,” he adds, “when suddenly, suddenly, a musician creates music that he has never heard, never thought about, or played anything like that before. What comes out is completely spontaneous.”

Many studies recent years have concentrated on trying to understand which parts of the human brain are activated when listening to music, and, as Limb argues, too little attention has been paid to studying brain activity during spontaneous music composition.

Wanting to understand what was happening to his own brain while “jazzed,” he and his colleague Allen R. Braun, a professor of medicine, developed a plan to monitor brain function during musical improvisation in real time.

They recruited six experienced jazz pianists to participate in this study, three of them from the Peabody Institute, a music conservatory where Limb holds a part-time professorship. Other volunteers became aware of the study through word of mouth in the local jazz community.

The researchers developed a special keyboard that pianists could play inside a functional magnetic resonance imaging machine; a brain scanner that highlights areas of the brain that respond to various stimuli, such as identifying which areas are active when a person is engaged in some kind of mental activity.

Because the functional magnetic resonance imaging machine uses powerful magnets, the scientists developed a custom keyboard that contains no metal parts that could be attracted by the magnet. They also used headphones compatible with the unit, which allowed the musicians to hear the music they were creating as they played.

Each musician participated in four different exercises designed to differentiate brain activity while playing from memory of simple piano pieces and brain activity observed during improvisation.

Inside the fMRI machine with the keyboard perched on their laps, all pianists began playing the C major scale, a well-memorized series of notes that every aspiring musician learns. The metronome built into the headphones was intended to ensure that all musicians played the same scale - in the same order, at the same time intervals.

For the second exercise, the pianists had to improvise. They had to play the quarter notes of the scale, but they could play them in any order they wanted.

Next, the musicians had to play the original blues tune, which they had learned in advance, while a jazz quartet played in the background, complementing the tune. In the final exercise, the musicians had to improvise their own melodies using the same jazz quartet recording.

Limb and Brown then analyzed recordings taken from the brain by the scanner. Because the areas of the brain activated by playing from memory are the same parts of the brain that are typically active during any kind of piano playing, the researchers excluded them from the brain picture obtained during improvisation.

Working further only on areas of the brain specific to the process of improvisation, the scientists saw strikingly similar patterns, regardless of whether the musicians were performing a simple improvisation on the C major scale, or playing a more complex melody while improvising like a jazz quartet.

The scientists found that a part of the brain known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—a broad frontal region of the brain that extends from the center to the periphery—showed a slowdown in brain activity during improvisation. This area appears to be responsible for planned actions and self-censorship, such as carefully choosing words in interviews.

Disabling this area could result in decreased inhibition, Limb concludes. The scientists also found increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, i.e. in the center of the frontal part of the brain. This area is responsible for self-expression, activities that express individuality, such as telling a sincere story about yourself.

“Jazz is often described as an extremely individualistic art form. You can easily identify the game jazz musician, because Every jazz musician's improvisation sounds like his own music,” says Limb. “As we now imagine, when you ‘tell’ your own musical history, what happens is that you shut down impulses that can suppress the flow of creative thought.”

Limb notes that this type of brain activity can occur during other types of improvisation that are an integral part of the lives of both artists and artists. ordinary people. For example, he notes, people constantly improvise their choice of words in conversation, just as they improvise with solutions to unexpected problems. “Without this type of creativity, humans would not have been able to develop as a species. It's an integral part of who we are,” says Limb.

Many people don't realize how much music influences their lives. Simple melodies in commercials, music in bars, films, soundtracks for TV series... The whole world lives in a rhythm that is set by the environment. What could be better than your favorite track on headphones or speakers? A good track helps you relax, disconnect from the outside world, and even lift your spirits. Some people like rap, others - calm and melodic indie. But lately Somewhat unusual overseas jazz is gaining more and more fans in Europe. How music affects our productivity, mood and well-being, and what can be said about a person who prefers jazz tunes.

Why do people love jazz? This is improvisation, emotions, style and mood. Such compositions can be called relaxed music. Scientists have repeatedly said that our musical preferences change in direct proportion to our age and lifestyle. Interesting fact, but jazz rhythms appeal to middle-aged people who like to relax after a hard day at work and really know a lot about good company and music.

Also, numerous studies have confirmed the fact that jazz lovers are easy-going and have objective, and sometimes even somewhat inflated, self-esteem. They can safely be called extroverts. And if the fans classical symphonies prefer to stay at home alone with themselves or those closest to them, then fans of the multifaceted saxophone would rather go to the nearest bar for a get-together with friends.

At the beginning of the last century, during the golden years of jazz, it was difficult to have fun. In America at that time, the Great Depression had just ended, the population suffered from unemployment, Prohibition was soon adopted, then there was a period of long devastation in the post-war years. Jazz music is rhythm and mood, into which the musician tries to put everything he can. A few minutes of a bright composition is a storm of good emotions, a constant change of rhythm and style. Distinctive feature jazz melodies in their richness and the absence of any rules. The most best compositions were created simply according to the mood of the authors, in an ideal tandem of saxophone, piano or cello.

If you yourself or one of your colleagues also like to work with headphones that sound perky sax melodies have you ever thought about How much does music affect your productivity at work?? In fact, music can do wonders for our brain. It is not for nothing that doctors attribute analgesic properties and the ability to relieve the listener of headaches to Mozart’s compositions.

The pleasant rhythms you hear through your headphones can improve your productivity. Repeated studies have confirmed positive influence musical compositions for those employees who perform monotonous office work. In this case, the composition sets the rhythm and does not allow you to “go astray.” Compositions that are too loungey and calm can lead to boredom, but playful jazz motifs are the best way to set the mood for a positive mood and effective work.

Favorite music is a great way to close yourself off from the outside world when you need to concentrate. Modern offices in most cases are built on the open space principle. Sales managers, programmers, or even call center employees can sit in the same office. Each of them has their own rhythm of work. Someone needs to share with colleagues latest news, while others need to focus on completing a complex task or writing a report. In this case, headphones will become a “legal” way to get rid of inappropriate questions from colleagues and unnecessary conversations. Some workers deliberately wear headphones without music, pretending to be inaccessible to “outside interference.” But it’s much better to enjoy your favorite jazz compositions.

By the way, jazz, like any other music you prefer, can make you happy. Studies on the effects of musical compositions on the brain have shown that while listening to pleasant songs, dopamine is produced in the body. This is a hormone that is responsible for feelings of love, euphoria and pleasure. It's stupid to give up music when it's so useful.

Music is a powerful tool for influencing a person’s mood, the course of his thoughts and, as a result, his performance. Of course, jazz is no exception here. For example, slow jazz helps reduce the level of anxiety and act more calmly, rationally and deliberately. This is especially important for mental work or work that requires a high level of concentration. So music in the work process is common among IT developers, web designers, professionals separate intellectual varieties card games and even surgeons. A study by British scientists showed that about 90% of British surgeons listen to music during operations, giving preference to calm compositions. A study conducted at the University of Windsor (Canada) showed that background music has a positive effect on the performance and interest in assigned tasks among IT industry workers. In cases where there was no music, employees showed lower KPIs.

By the way, jazz has a huge advantage in front of others musical genres. There are practically no words in the compositions, and this will not allow you to be distracted while working on their comprehension and perception. You will be able to concentrate on work, avoiding external irritants. The main rule " musical work“- don’t turn up the volume in your headphones too much and choose the songs that you really enjoy. Working to music is not only pleasant, but also useful - trust science!

Music - great power humanity. She has not only talent and cultural heritage, but also the source of human emotions. Each genre of music has its own impact on human health and psyche.

Music has surrounded man since ancient times. To the sounds that primitive people heard around, attached sacred meaning, and over time they learned to extract melodies from the first musical instruments.

The first percussion musical instruments appeared in the Paleolithic era - they were used for ritual purposes, and the first wind musical instrument, the flute, appeared about 40,000 years ago.

Thus, since ancient times, music has become an integral part of human life. The main use of music in ancient times was to accompany ritual.

The sacred meaning of music is traced in the direction of folk, to which the term “prehistoric” is applied. The music of the aborigines of African, American and other indigenous peoples is prehistoric.

Each holiday and ritual was accompanied by certain combinations of sounds and melody. The sounds of musical instruments signaled the start of the battle.

The purpose of performing musical compositions was to raise morale, appeal to the gods, and notify about the start of action or danger.

The prehistoric period of music ends with the advent of a written musical tradition. The first musical works were written down in cuneiform in Mesopotamia. With the variety of musical instruments, the works became more complex.

Scientists have proven that music absolutely accurately reflects the state of development of culture and worldview at every stage of the evolution of society. Already the ancient Greeks described the technique of polyphony.

Medieval music was varied. Church and secular works. The first type reflected the spirituality of the people, and the second - the aesthetic ideals of that time.

Genre diversity modern music allows you to choose a composition according to your spirit. But why do we like certain works? A person perceives music through the prism of several factors: nationality, emotional state, individual characteristics.

Each genre has a different effect on a person’s mental and physical state. The most ancient studies claimed that music affects the intellect, the human body and his spiritual essence.

Modern research has studied this influence:

• exposure to the sounds of certain musical instruments;
• influence of traditional melodies;
• modern trends and the psychological state of a person;
• exposure to the works of certain composers;
• musical genre and its influence.

Impact on the psyche and mood

Mood is a constant, continuous emotional state of a person. Our actions and actions depend on it. A specific thing or action cannot affect mood globally - the shaping factor of mood is the life situation as a whole.

Modern psychology identifies the following factors for mood changes:

1. Events. They can depend on a person or be formed independently of him.
2. Words, spoken to a person and spoken by him.
3. Sphere inner world person: what a person thinks, experiences, how he relates to certain actions of other people and events in the world.
4. Actions. What a person is willing to spend his efforts on.
5. Bad mood leads to the fact that a person perceives events in life in gloomy tones, through negativism. In a state of low emotional tone, many turn to their favorite music.

It is worth noting that the influence of each genre is individual and largely depends on personal perception. The psychological impact is exerted by:

• rhythm of music;
• variety of tones;
• volume;
• frequencies;
• additional effects.

Classic

Classical music influences a person, giving vitality and perseverance. Reduces anxiety, likelihood of depression, irritability. Promotes knowledge acquisition.

Studies have shown that the works of certain composers evoke certain reactions in the majority of subjects:

1. Bach and his “Italian Concerto” reduces negative feelings of anger and resentment.
2. Tchaikovsky and Beethoven wrote masterpieces that promote healthy sleep and reduce irritability.
3. Mozart and his works help fight irritability and headaches.

Rock, metal

Heavy music enhances emotions – both negative and positive. Rock charges with energy, but disrupts internal balance and distorts rhythms.

Research into the influence of rock on the human psyche has shown that the rhythm and monotony of most works have negative consequences. This is especially evident in age group 11-15 years old.

Pop

Scientists have proven that pop music negatively affects attentiveness and memory due to the monotony of the rhythm.

Rap, hip-hop

Rap, according to research, causes feelings of aggression. The monotony of rap can cause irritation, anger, low mood and general emotional tone.

Jazz, blues, reggae

Blues has a beneficial effect on emotions, calms, and reduces irritability. Jazz disrupts inner harmony. Jazz is considered music that has a rather negative influence. Reggae is considered music good mood, increases emotional tone, does not cause aggression and bitterness.

Club, electronic

Modern club and electronic music reduces learning ability and negatively affects intelligence. In some cases, it increases irritability and tension.

Music in the “soul” genre reminds us of feelings and often makes us sad. Folk music, folk - increases the overall emotional tone, lifts the mood.

Music and health

The healing power of music was known to Pythagoras - the ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician made the first attempt to study its effect on humans. Certain combinations of sounds can change the general condition of a person - the first scientific evidence of this was provided by scientists in the 19th century.

The use of music as a medicine was first proposed by the psychiatrist Esquirol. Since then, “music therapy” has been actively used for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients.

In the twentieth century, doctors explored the ability of music to relieve pain, heal ulcers and tuberculosis. The most popular has become the use of melodies as anesthesia.

The second half of the twentieth century gave science research into the effects of music on the cardiovascular system, blood circulation, respiration, and hormonal regulation. The centers of modern music therapy are the USA, Germany, and Switzerland.

Melodies produced by different musical instruments, differ in their impact on the human condition:

1. Piano: effects on the thyroid gland, kidneys, bladder, psyche. The sounds of it keyboard instrument have a healing, cleansing effect.
2. Drums(drums, tambourine, cymbals, castanets, timpani, bells): normalization of the heart, liver, and circulatory system.
3. Brass(trumpet, clarinet, flute, bassoon, oboe): beneficial effect on the circulatory system, respiratory system.
4. Strings(harp, violin, guitar): positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. They have an impact on the emotional sphere.

The beneficial effects of classical music on the human brain have been confirmed by many researchers. Classic improves memory, perception of information, helps with rheumatism.

According to the observations of surgeons, thanks to classical music the body works more harmoniously.

A connection has been established between classical music and the treatment of diabetes. Classic piece contribute to the formation of the child’s bone skeleton.

Different music can have different effects depending on a person’s mood, emotional tone, and state of health.

• The first music therapy course appeared in the UK. It was tested in the 60s of the twentieth century. The Music Therapy Center was opened.
• Music helps relax muscles and treat obesity.
• Studies have shown that listening to music during sports training increases performance by 20%.
• The rhythm of music can be dangerous: it can cause abdominal pain and headaches.
• The power of music has long been used in the trading sphere. Certain melodies can relax the buyer or increase his energy. This technology can be seen in supermarkets: during rush hour an energetic melody is played, at other times the music is calmer.
• The resonance from bell ringing kills typhoid bacilli, the causative agents of infectious diseases.

Music can influence the mental and physiological state of a person. The power of a melody is in its tonality, rhythm, and volume. Any piece of music The music you choose to listen to will affect your mood, emotional tone, and health.

Video: The influence of music on IQ

Video: Musical preferences will tell you about your character. Rock

It is scientifically substantiated that not every direction in music has a beneficial effect on the human body. Modern rock music is often cited as an example of a negative impact on the psyche. This popular style have their own special distinctive features, namely a rigid rhythm, monotonous repetitions, volume, superfrequencies, lighting effect. They just don’t have the best effect on our body.

Rhythm is generally the most powerful means of influencing a person. Back in ancient times shamans could, with the help of certain musical rhythms, which they beat on their instruments, put a person into a trance or achieve a state of ecstasy in him.

Why is this happening?

This is due to the functions of our hearing aid. Rhythm captures the motor center of the brain and stimulates certain functions of the endocrine system. But the most powerful blow falls on areas of the brain associated with human sexual functions. Drumming, for example, was used to drive oneself into a frenzy. Rhythm can influence the ability to analyze, reason, and logic. You can even achieve that they will be completely neutralized.

Modern rock music uses frequencies that have a special effect on the brain. The rhythm acquires narcotic properties, as it is combined with ultra-low frequencies of 15-30 hertz and ultra-high frequencies up to 80,000 hertz.
A rhythm that is a multiple of one and a half beats per second, accompanied by ultra-low frequencies, can cause ecstasy. The rhythm, equal to two beats per second at the same frequency, puts a person into a kind of dance trance. Too much of both high and low frequencies injures the brain. There have been cases when concussions, sound burns, hearing loss and even memory loss occurred at rock concerts.

Rock music, despite all its strength and power, belongs to the category of monotonous, motor-like sounds, perceiving which listeners can fall into a passive state. And the more often it is listened to, the greater this ability to switch off faster and achieve a state of passivity.

Next up is the volume factor. Our ear in the best possible way perceives sound at 55-60 decibels. A sound of 70 decibels is considered loud. And on the site where the equipment and speakers are installed during rock concerts, the volume is 120 decibels, and in the middle of the site 160 decibels (it must be said that 120 dB is the volume of the roar of a jet plane taking off!). What happens to the body? The adrenal glands secrete the stress hormone adrenaline. But since the impact of the stimulus does not stop, the production of adrenaline does not stop either. And it, adrenaline, erases some of the information imprinted in the brain. A person forgets what happened to him or what he has ever studied, that is, he degrades mentally.

Such an indispensable attribute of rock concerts as the lighting effect is far from harmless - those rays that from time to time pierce the darkness in different directions and have different configurations. For everyone, this is just a decoration for the concert. What is it really? A certain alternation of light and darkness accompanied by loud music significantly weakens visual orientation and the speed of reaction decreases. Flashes of light, which come one after another in accordance with the rhythm of the music, stimulate mechanisms associated with hallucinations, dizziness, and nausea.

For a long time, doctors, psychologists, and scientists have been telling us that the rhythm of rock music, the frequency of sound, the alternation of light and darkness - all this destroys the human being, perverts it. However, today there are few people who have not been influenced by the elements of rock music.

Rock music imposes its own patterns of worldview, indicates how to dress, how to think... People weakly live according to these patterns from morning to evening... This music affects the motor center, emotional, intellectual, and sexual spheres of a person’s life.

As a result of research, it has been established that as a result of prolonged exposure to rock music, the following conditions are possible:

• aggressiveness;
• rage;
• anger;
• depression;
• fear;
• suicidal tendencies;
• unnatural, forced sex;
• involuntary muscle movement;
• lack of concentration and ability to make decisions clearly;
• desire for the constant sound of rock music;
• social alienation.

Of course, no one says that if a person passionately loves rock, then he possesses the whole set of these qualities. No, he is simply most predisposed to them, and when appropriate combinations of other factors appear, he will certainly be subject to their destructive influence.