Music and the Mind

Why is music so powerful and able to evoke so many different emotions from the listener? Is there a biological basis for improvisation and creativity, and what could be the evolutionary purpose of creativity? These were just some of the questions that were discussed in a panel discussion hosted by the New York Academy of Sciences on December 12, 2012 titled “Music and the Mind: The Magical Power of Sound.” The purpose of the discussion was to attempt to understand the neurobiological basis of music and creativity, and featured four panelists with varied backgrounds:

• Jamshed Bharucha, PhD., a cognitive neuroscientist and a classically trained violinist.
• Vijay Iyer, PhD., a composer-pianist who also does research on cognition, rhythm and improvisation.
• Charles Limb, MD., a neurosurgeon who studies the neural basis of musical improvisation and creativity, as well as the perception of music in deaf individuals with cochlear implants.
• Concetta Tomaino, DA, an internationally known researcher for the use of music in neurologic rehabilitation.

Although no firm conclusions were made at the end of the discussion, it was certainly interesting to hear different ideas from current researchers in the field. Dr. Tomaino brought up her experience as a music therapist where music is used to help patients release their emotional or physical feelings. She emphasized that our reactions to music is built upon years of experience, and as a result it is very personal so that a given piece of music can provoke different reactions in different people. Dr. Limb conceded that while it is difficult to try and place something like improvisation into a scientific framework, there is certainly a biological process underlying it. That is not to say that there is a “music region” in the brain, rather it is more likely that several areas are involved with creating and perceiving music, which adds to the complexity and difficulty in studying the biological basis for music. As to why we have creativity in the first place, Dr. Bharucha suggested that creative domains, one of which is music, have a framework within which there can be infinite variation. These domains can help to create group identity through synchronization and familiarity of the structures and frameworks, leading to greater group cohesion. Dr. Iyer performed two improvisational pieces and discussed the thoughts and decisions that he makes as he performs, in an attempt to elucidate the basis of improvisation.

A video of the entire discussion can be found on the Nour Foundation website, at http://www.nourfoundation.com/videos/music-and-the-mind-the-magical-power-of-sound.html

The New York Academy of Sciences seeks to take advantage of the large scientific community in New York by bringing together scientists to exchange ideas and educate each other as well as the general public. The NYAS offers a dizzying array of scientific meetings and panel discussions on a variety of topics, bringing in expert speakers to discuss ideas.

Sackler graduate students receive free membership to the NYAS, which means tickets for many of the academy’s events are either free or available at a reduced cost. Some upcoming events include “Lust and Love in the Animal Kingdom” (Feb 12, 2013), “From Where Will The Water of the Future Come?” (Feb 28, 2013), “Sloth: Is Your City Making You Fat?” (Mar 13, 2013), “Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Genes to Circuits to Behavior” (Mar 20, 2013). For more information and to register, visit www.nyas.org.