tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181744309080861233.post4338077501245781558..comments2024-01-12T00:48:55.192-08:00Comments on Music and Brain Blog at University of Toronto: Musicians slightly crazy, but smarter?Lee Bartelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06727468225852676801noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181744309080861233.post-67599666059341568152010-01-05T13:05:06.548-08:002010-01-05T13:05:06.548-08:00Myrtle’s observations of this interesting study ar...Myrtle’s observations of this interesting study are the same questions that were raised in my mind as I read her blog: are musicians predisposed to these so-called “schizotypal” traits and creative functions, or are these facets developed as a musician’s skills are developed? Either way, the connections are very interesting. To further this, the apparent link to psychosis-proneness is almost alarming. I wonder whether other artists have a similar predisposition, for example visual artists, dancers, actors, etc. It would seem that this is the case as so many artists struggle with mental health disorders. It would be interesting to find out if anyone has done research on preventative measures to hinder any possibility to become prone to psychosis. I would assume that if the research on connections between creativity and mental health is in its primary stages, research on how to stop or trigger these effects.<br /> This particular area of research makes me think of Glenn Gould and his struggles with physical and mental health. Could his difficulties with anxiety and his various phobias be connected to his intensely creative and genius mind? If there had been some sort of preventative measure taken when he was alive, would he have had a longer, healthier life? Obviously it is fruitless to consider his particular life as an example, but perhaps in the future, scientists and researchers will be able to balance creative geniuses if it means a better quality of life. However, it’s possible that some people thrive on the “troubled artist” image! This leaves endless possibilities for future research.SarahRose Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05415004796330079672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181744309080861233.post-33229383931895982952009-12-17T09:40:15.688-08:002009-12-17T09:40:15.688-08:00One of the papers I researched covered this same i...One of the papers I researched covered this same issue from a different perspective, that of the importance of music education in children. In that paper, no definite conclusion could definitely be reached with respect to this. <br /><br />I do think that one needs to be careful with the claim that musicians are smarter. Yes, the cortex of the brain has been found to be enlarged in areas of musician’s brains compared to non-musicians. But I think that if similar tests were carried out on a highly trained individual in any specialized area, this would be the case. <br /> <br />With respect to the actual experiment itself, some questions arise. It seems that a very small number of subjects were tested; more accurate results would be produced if it were undertaken on a larger scale. As well, it states that “musicians” were tested. Does that mean that they all played the same instrument at nearly the same level? There is a difference in the types of skill required by a jazz saxophone improviser, for instance, than a piano performer.Renee Kruisselbrinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06844621841159094228noreply@blogger.com