Abstract
Group musical improvisation is thought to be akin to conversation, and therapeutically has been shown to be effective at improving communicativeness, sociability, creative expression, and overall psychological health. To understand these therapeutic effects, clarifying the nature of brain activity during improvisational cognition is important. Some insight regarding brain activity during improvisational music cognition has been gained via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). However, we have found no reports based on magnetoencephalography (MEG). With the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of improvisational music performance experimentation in MEG. We designed a novel MEG-compatible keyboard, and used it with experienced musicians (N = 13) in a music performance paradigm to spectral-spatially differentiate spontaneous brain activity during mental imagery of improvisational music performance. Analyses of source activity revealed that mental imagery of improvisational music performance induced greater theta (5–7 Hz) activity in left temporal areas associated with rhythm production and communication, greater alpha (8–12 Hz) activity in left premotor and parietal areas associated with sensorimotor integration, and less beta (15–29 Hz) activity in right frontal areas associated with inhibition control. These findings support the notion that musical improvisation is conversational, and suggest that creation of novel auditory content is facilitated by a more internally-directed, disinhibited cognitive state.
Highlights
To paraphrase Limb and Braun (2008), improvisational music performance is the spontaneous, on-line ideation and expression of novel melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical elements within a relevant musical context
Areas having significantly different theta activity were concentrated in the left temporal cortex
A plot of representative mean theta activity across subjects in the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) reveals that theta band activity for Improvise was strongly modulated in correspondence with the stimulus and physical performance periods, and that it remained higher compared to Copy throughout the mental imagery period (Figure 4 top panel)
Summary
To paraphrase Limb and Braun (2008), improvisational music performance is the spontaneous, on-line ideation and expression of novel melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical elements within a relevant musical context. Improvisational music performance is thought to be synonymous with conversation (Monson, 1996). These ideational, expressive and conversational aspects of musical improvisation have made it an important tool in music therapy where it serves as a vehicle for communication between patient and therapist, both of whom use instruments to express themselves in an ongoing musical conversation. In patients with depression, autism spectrum disorder, or other forms of cognitive dysfunction, improvisational music therapies have been reported to improve well-being, along with communication, sociability, and emotional and creative expression (Kim et al, 2008; Erkkilä et al, 2011; Rylatt, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
