Movies and Music
Amy Winehouse, along with Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and others, has died at the age of 27. Is there a tragic connection between being a musician and the age of 27? Does the so-called "27 Curse" really exist? Read my Psychology Today post here: Why have famous musicians died at 27?
Is it possible that the impulsivity and quick-thinking that accompanies ADHD may also boost creativity? And what role does medication have in that creative process? Does stimulant medication hamper creativity, or boost it? The ADHD brain may not be held back as much by constraints on thinking. In a study by Abraham et al. (2006), adolescents [...]
Healing, like forgiveness, is a gradual process. Give yourself all the time you need - and play some good music while you're at it. "All healing is first a healing of the heart." - Carl Townsend "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." - Helen Keller "Healing [...]
ScienceDaily (2011-01-24) -- What makes music beautiful? The best compositions transcend culture and time -- but what is the commonality which underscores their appeal? New research suggests that the brain simplifies complex patterns, much in the same way that "lossless" music compression formats reduce audio files, by removing redundant data and identifying patterns. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110120073507.htm
Yes, Bogart-Bacall Syndrome is a real syndrome. Possibly the syndrome with the coolest name ever, but nonetheless.... Bogart-Bacall Syndrome happens when you speak or sing for extended periods of time in a different vocal range than what you are used to. It is most common when you speak or sing with a lower register than normal. [...]
From IMDB.com: The acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was sentenced to six years in prison today, and banned from directing and producing films for the next 20 years, his lawyer said. Panahi, an outspoken supporter of Iran's opposition green movement, was convicted of gathering, colluding and propaganda against the regime, Farideh Gheyrat told the Iranian state [...]
Dr. Charles Limb at Johns Hopkins University used MRIs of jazz musicians to determine the brain's processes during jazz improvisation. When the musicians improvised, the brain's inhibition processes shut down. In addition, the brain's dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, where self-monitoring comes from, also shut down. The brain's medial prefrontal cortex turned on, which provides self-expression. Also, the [...]