DJing and its potential Neurophysiological Implications

Abstract

The “Art of DJing” is based on general features of the human brain processing that have deep neurobiological roots. Professional DJs who exhibits movement-timing performance does real life mixing using a variety of techniques, including complex beatmatching, blending, rhythm matching, cuing, and others. Mixing involves the activation of the brain´s auditory and memory centers, the frontal lobe for planning, and the motor and sensory cortex for coordination of manual control and sensory contact, and influence and potentially re-shape functional and structural brain networks. Dichotic brain experience the tracks separately to each ear and artificial enhancement the lateralization of each track, helping the DJ to mix with greater musical clarity. It is a repetitive process, triggering a significant change in an evoked brain potential vital for the cognitive functions, and which can modulate or balance auditory spatial attention. In addition, track selection focuses on the experience of pleasant feelings with evidence suggesting that music influences the dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway in the brain, the same pathway that is activated by drugs of abuse and natural rewards, such as food and sex. This paper not only aims to explain how the practice of DJing leads to an ordered activation of specific brain functions and areas, but also discusses why DJing is such a great neuropsychological skill eminently based on brain foundations. Keywords: DJing, Mixing, Neuroscience, Brain, Neuropsychological Skills.