Jazz Bands and MRI Scans: How brains are creative

Have you ever wondered what’s going on in a musician’s head while they improvise? In our latest episode, Dr. Charles Limb gives us a window to peer into the process of creativity as it happens: scanning the brains of jazz musicians and rappers as they improvise. Tune in to learn what brain processes allow creative thought, why creativity matters, and whether or not you might compose the next great rock ballad.

Hosted by Ramie Fathy
Produced by Anna Lipkin and Ramie Fathy
Editing by the CTOR Team

Music:
"Maggot Brian" by Funkadelic
"Stormy Blues" by Arne Bang Huseby
"nostalgia of an ex-gangsta rapper" by deef
and original improvisations/compositions by Michael Bruschi

Your Brain on Music

Carry The One Radio goes live, at the California Academy of Sciences. We talk sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll with Dr. Indre Viskontas, a Neuroscientist and Opera singer, at Nightlife: Brain and Body. Hear why the music industry is obsessed with your brain, why drug addicts often die in hotel rooms, and why "The Wheels on the Bus" becomes intensely annoying as you grow up.

Credits:

Diana Deutsch's spoken word to music example. More information about this study can be found here

Dwayne Christie: customized music to support the Diana Deutsch spoken word to music piece

Barber Adagio for Strings: hear the full score here

Interesting links:

Dr. Indre Viskontas' podcast Cadence and Ensemble Project. You may also be interested in Indre's podcast Inquiring Minds (Co-hosted by Kishore Hari)

California Academy of Science Nightlife is a 21+ nighttime event at the California Academy of Sciences every Thursday. Check out their upcoming events here

Hosted by Samantha Hindle and Ben Mansky. Produced by Samantha Hindle.