Prefrontal activation related to spontaneous creativity with rock music improvisation: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Abstract

Understanding how the brain modulates improvisation has been the focus of numerous studies in recent years. Models have suggested regulation of activity between default mode and executive control networks play a role in improvisational execution. Several studies comparing formulaic to improvised sequences support this framework and document increases in activity in medial frontal lobe with decreased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). These patterns can be influenced through training and neural responses may differ between in beginner and expert musicians. Our goal was to test the generalizability of this framework and determine similarity in neural activity in the prefrontal cortex during improvisation. Twenty guitarists performed improvised and formulaic sequences in a blues rock format while brain activity was recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Results indicate similar modulation in DLPFC as seen previously. Specific decreases of activity from left DLPFC in the end compared to beginning or middle of improvised sequences were also found. Despite the range of skills of participants, we also found significant correlation between subjective feelings of improvisational performance and modulation in left DLPFC. Processing of subjective feelings regardless of skill may contribute to neural modulation and may be a factor in understanding neural activity during improvisation.

Concept generation techniques change patterns of brain activation during engineering design

“…The left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is bilaterally active when performing creativity tasks that require new associations and evaluations (Funahashi 2017). For instance, activation in the left DLPFC decreases (Tachibana et al 2019) and activation increases in the right DLPFC during improvization (De Dreu et al 2012;Kleibeuker et al 2013). The medial PFC (mPFC) and ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC), are also involved in creative design tasks.…”

Links Between the Neurobiology of Oxytocin and Human Musicality

“…Music that evokes strong emotional valence is associated with altered activity not only in the superior temporal gyrus but also in the caudate nucleus, insula, thalamus, cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal, dorsomedial, dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal cortex and supplementary motor area (e.g., Blood and Zatorre, 2001 ; Koelsch et al, 2006 ; Mitterschiffthaler et al, 2007 ; Chapin et al, 2010 ; Brattico et al, 2011 ; Pereira et al, 2011 ; Khant et al, 2012 ; Altenmüller et al, 2014 ; Koelsch, 2018 ; Särkämö and Sihvonen, 2018 ; Sachs et al, 2019 ). Of course, music involves more than just listening, and imaging of people—alone or with others—creating and improvising jazz, rap or rock music has also revealed increased neural activity in the medial frontal lobe and altered, usually decreased, activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when compared to the same subjects playing or singing “formulaic sequences” (Limb and Braun, 2008 ; Liu et al, 2012 ; Donnay et al, 2014 ; Tachibana et al, 2019 ).…”

“…The nature of the musical activity is important because an increase in plasma oxytocin levels in members of a vocal jazz group was only recorded when singers were improvising together (Keeler et al, 2015 ), likely due to altered activity in the prefrontal cortex and enhanced affiliative and prosocial interactions (Limb and Braun, 2008 ; Liu et al, 2012 ; Donnay et al, 2014 ; Tachibana et al, 2019 ). Schladt et al ( 2017 ) reported that salivary oxytocin levels slightly increased when subjects were solo singing but were decreased when singing in a choir.…”

“…cortex when compared to the same subjects playing or singing ''formulaic sequences'' (Limb and Braun, 2008;Liu et al, 2012;Donnay et al, 2014;Tachibana et al, 2019).…”

Mapping the ‘funny bone’: neuroanatomical correlates of humor creativity in professional comedians

“…Overall, the literature consistently demonstrates an interplay of the default mode network (DMN) and executive control network during tasks that involve creative improvisation ( Boccia et al. , 2015 ; Tachibana et al. , 2019 ; Chen et al.…”