Do drummers have a different brain than the rest of us who are rhythmically challenged? According to Brian Eno, celebrated neuroscientist David Eagleman and a recent study, all signs point to yes.
As Dangerous Minds indicates, an incredible event transpired when a slew of professional drummers who were invited by Eno, allowed Eagleman to monitor their perception of time in a musical sense via brain monitors called EEG units.
In an article written by Burkhard Bilger entitled "The Possibibilian: What a brush with death taught David Eagleman about the mysteries of time and the brain," he describes the tests that asked the drummers to perform simple drumming techniques: holding a beat, compare the length of two tones, synchronize a beat to an image and compare rhythms.
If you're into this kind of science experiment, it's worth a read and gives a good idea of what it's like to have a rhythmically sound brain. For those creative types, the artistic mindset usually has a few quirks and it's fascinating how Eagleman is able to point them out with evidence.
It's impossible to summarize the article in a small post so make your way to The New Yorker and give the article a read through. Also, check out the movie, Whiplash, and get behind the scenes trials and tribulations of becoming an unrivaled drummer.
Speaking of drummers, give the late-Keith Moon a listen below.
© 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
