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 senses of sight, sound, and touch were heightened.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jcv2DzetxN-J2wcX1AHNxF1RUhTgD8VANQIG0
