- Music and The Brain
-
- Connections between brain cells are called synapses. Recent
brain
- research demonstrates that these connections grow stronger
with
- use and become weaker if they are not used.
-
- Many systems of the human brain rely on the exchange of
- information across these synapses. The stronger the synapses,
the
- faster information can be exchanged between brain cells, and
the
- better the following systems can operate:
- - The sensory and perceptual systems: auditory, visual,
and
- kinesthetic
- - The cognitive system: symbolic, linguistic, and reading
- - Body movements: fine and gross muscle action and
coordination
- - Feedback and evaluation of actions
- - The motivational and hedonic (pleasure) system
- - Memory and recall of facts learned
-
- Brain scans taken during musical performances show that
virtually
- the entire cerebral cortex (central processing area of the
brain) is
- active while musicians are performing. Almost every system
of
- the brain is at work simultaneously during a music
performance,
- and brain cells are rapidly sending messages. The "workout"
that
- the brain experiences during a musical performance strengthens
the
- connections between brain cells, allowing the brain to
function
- more efficiently.
-
- How can music-making engage the entire brain? Consider
the
- steps involved in taking a piece of music from notes on a page
to
- sound. This process includes interpreting complex symbols
and
- sending messages quickly to muscles to adjust the fingers,
lips, or
- vocal mechanisms. Musicians have to plan ahead so their
fingers,
- bows, or mallets are in the right place to play the next note,
and
- singers and wind instrument players need enough air to
sustain
- long notes and phrases. During practice, musicians review
their
- performance and make corrections and changes.
-
- While solo musicians engage in the processes above,
musicians
- performing in an ensemble (chorus, band, orchestra, or
chamber
- group) utilize even more brain systems. Ensemble musicians
must
- interpret and act upon the conductor's gestures at the same
time
- they are reading music symbols from the page. They also have
to
- balance their own sound with the sound of other musicians.
These
- "ensemble processes" entail a split-second procedure of
evaluation
- and adjustment that each musician repeats countless times
during a
- performance.
-
- Music making offers extensive exercise for brain cells and
their
- synapses (connections). It would be difficult to find
another
- activity that engages so many of the brain's systems.
Synapses
- between brain cells strengthen with use just as muscles do,
and
- there is good reason to believe that music making increases
the
- brain's capacity by improving these synapses.
-
- Source: "The Music in Our Minds" by Norman M. Weinberger.
Published in Educational Leadership, Vol. 56, No. 3: November
1998.
-
-
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