CM and our Brain

[cmlover]

However good the artiste's performance be our ultimate enjoyment of CM depends on our Anatomic/Physiologic/Psychologic
apparatus. Provided there are no physical handicaps I shall discuss the role of 'Brain' first.

As all of us know we have indeed two brains the Left and the Right hemispheres. Though anatomically similar their
physiologic/biologic roles are distinctly different. I shall not bore you with technical details but succinctly:
The Left half of the brain is analytic which excels in math, computation and language processing; and
the Right is holistic good at imagination, insight, synthetic - good at arriving at a global analysis.
In the computer jargon the left does serial processing whereas the right is good at parallel processing.

Appreciation of music is generally in the Right whereas the musical creativity originates from the Left.However there is no
distinct 'music centre' in our brains. The emotional and associative components are globally distributed in a complex manner.

Since the Language processing is done at the Left, if we pay too much attention to the lyrics then the
left will be very active to the detriment of appreciating the overall-beauty of the rendering which is
part of the right side. Hence for a full enjoyment of CM it is better not o pay too much attention to
lyrics. This is often true of great performers sacrificing the niceties of lyrics for musical excellence.
While melody is processed by the Right the rhythm uses both sides (more of Left for complicated taaLams).

EEG studies show the status of the brain under different 'brain waves'.
The Beta brain wave (13 to 30 cycles per second (cps))is dominant when one is fully awake and engaged in some intense activity
The Alpha brain wave (8 to 12 cps) is active when the brain is alert and relaxed.
The Theta brain wave (4 to 8 cps) is active during dreaming or intense inward meditative state.
The Delta brain wave (0.5 to 4 cps) is when in deep dreamless sleep.

Ideally one should be in the Alpha state to fully enjoy CM. This can be achieved through practice by fully relaxing the
physical body and clearing the mind of disturbing stressful thoughts and focussing mentally on a pleasant atmosphere.
It helps to shut one's eyes and better not to be eating or drinking. Also we should remember that the Right side of the
brain controls the Left side of the body and vice versa. Hence if you wish to put taaLam use the left hand and shake
the left leg as well as try breathing through the left nostril.

All these will enhance our CM appreciation once we also understand our natural brain functions. Of
course there are so many other external factors not under our control which determine our experience.

But then let us make the best use of the equipment that nature has provided us - Our Brain.

[cmlover]

Wanted to add that If we start racking the brain to determine the Raga the Left side takes over and will spoil entirely the enjoyment of the music!

[arasi]

That's why an observant musician would spell out the name of the rAgA when waves of 'what rAgam is this?' query goes round the hall!

CML,
Good topic. I guess the left and right sides are just physical divisions as the tune and the beat in a song are.They are inseparable or are overlapping. Of course, you scientists can pin down certain abilities to particular areas of the brain, and more will come to light as experiments continue, no doubt.

[vasanthakokilam]

Good topic CML. If I understand your model right, those who identify the ragas based on its overall melodic whole are using the right side of the brain whereas those who go down to the swara level and try to match it to a scale are bringing in the left side as well..

My left is really broken in this regard then.. I have this perennial issue with Purvikalyani/Pantuvarali. That is a right side problem as well since I do not have a clean separation between the two ragas, and yesterday at a concert this was at play. Anyway, at some point, the right decided in favor of Purvikalyani and it prevailed!

BTW, with respect to your tip about keeping tala with the left, I will give that a try. But then, as Arasi seems to be saying as well, if rhythm is closer to computation and math than melody, then doing it with the right will make tala keeping autonomous and relieve the work load from the right,keeping it free to enjoy the music. Just pondering.

[Nick H]

Gentlemen, remember that, when walking, both legs work equally well ]

[cmlover]

Folks
It is more important to be on the 'Alpha' mode to enjoy CM fully. If you are fully relaxed (non-sleepy) and alert then you probably are on Alpha. This is quite subjective. There is no objective gadjet which can identify or train you to be on this mode. I have been asking my neurologist son to develop one, but he says it is immense work to miniaturize the EEG machine but the Japanese are trying and it may cost around $3000 to start with Here is an idea for our electronic wixards and software experts (Arun?) who can collaborate and develop a moderate priced device. The market potential is huge!

[TheListener]

> Appreciation of music is generally in the Right whereas the musical creativity originates from the Left

Isn't creativity associated with right brain?

>Since the Language processing is done at the Left, if we pay too much attention to the lyrics then the
left will be very active to the detriment of appreciating the overall-beauty of the rendering which is
part of the right side. Hence for a full enjoyment of CM it is better not o pay too much attention to
lyrics. This is often true of great performers sacrificing the niceties of lyrics for musical excellence.
While melody is processed by the Right the rhythm uses both sides (more of Left for complicated taaLams).

Too many general simplistic sweeping questionable statements.

--------------------

> While melody is processed by the Right the rhythm uses both sides (more of Left for complicated taaLams).
and
> Ideally one should be in the Alpha state to fully enjoy CM.....Also we should remember that the Right side of the
brain controls the Left side of the body and vice versa. Hence if you wish to put taaLam use the left hand and shake
the left leg as well as try breathing through the left nostril.

These are contradictory claims.

[Nick H]

I have been watching, on the net, a series of lectures from US Yale University on Listening to Music*. Not being a student, I have been watching for general interest, not to pass any exams, so not really attempting to memorise stuff, but music and the brain was touched on in the introductory session, and the assertion (IIRC) was that the left/right thing is not so relevant, but that music is processed in the same way and in the same areas of the brain as language. This may explain something about how I can listen to music with great pleasure, but not remember any of it!


*For anyone interested in an Western-classical-centric overview of music, this is really excellent

[kunthalavarali]

CML,
There are several books on Western classical music that tries to explain the art and science of appreciating music. You have started a nice topic on CM. Thanks

Referring to the alpha state you say "This can be achieved through practice by fully relaxing the physical body and clearing the mind of disturbing stressful thoughts and focussing mentally on a pleasant atmosphere." How true! Often people say that music can soothe disturbed mind. It appears that in real life it does not happen. Your mind needs to be poised to appreciate good music.

[Nick H]

But isn't this cart and horse?

We can relax and listen to music --- or we can listen to music and relax.

[cmlover]

Nick
Relaxing the brain means clearing disturbing thoughts from the brain such as:
worries about office work, family problems, health concerns etc.,
This is preparotory. The calmness is brought about by the Music.
There is a need for an expectation and a positive approach
You should have faith in the artiste that he/she will deliver the best which you will like.
If you are critical (too much of Left brain) then you lose the benefit of the enterprise.
Why should you even attend if you do not want to enjoy thorougly!
If you are attending aconcert as part of a social gathering then of course you lose the benefit of the
musical experience.

As several clinical studies have shown, a good relaxing musical experience will do immense
good for both your body and psyche.

The Left/Right dichotomy of the human brain is evolutionary and is a well established
biologic/anatomic fact. Experiments are galore where the effect of music has been studied
using fMRI on the Right brain by putting the Left to sleep. I do not want to be technical here
quoting studies.

The three pound human brain has immense potential and at best we do not use even ten percent
of nature's gift to us. Especially we have not learned to use the Left/Right effectively to
our advantage. There are ancient treatises on Yoga and Meditation which discuss Mind Control
which make sense under modern experimental investigations. Music plays a vital role in mind training
(vide: Siva Swarodaya - Swara Yoga theTantric Science of brain breathing by Swami Muktibodhananda - Yoga Publication Trust 1984)
Lots of research needs to be done especially in India to objectively vindicate these Theories.

My discussion is only based on general principles hoping it will motivate our youngsters.

[kunthalavarali]

Nick,

"We can relax and listen to music --- or we can listen to music and relax."
Certainly. However, as CML, says relaxing the brain comes first. It is really hard for many persons to do that in the modern day. I have known many who find to impossible to listen to music at times of distress, specially physical. Constant practice as outlined in the Yoga can perhaps improve the situation.

[Nick H]

It's true, I know how many concerts I have wasted because of some mental pre-occupation that made me unable to surrender to the music. But it can work the other way around too. How many times do we find are cares are flown away suddenly, at least until the music is over?

The better prepared we are, the more good we can get from the music.

The worse prepared, well, maybe the music will at least lower our stress levels. Maybe by the end of the alapana for the third song, we will find ourselves arriving. Yes, there are quite a few concerts that have only really started for me as the violin takes up that alapana.

[varsha]

These are contradictory claims.

Not surprising .
Since Science aims to explain mysteries and ....
Art aims to deepen mysteries...

[Nick H]

Nice.

May I add to the pot:

Science aims to cast light; art aims to enlighten.

[Purist]

# 4 Vk wrote ".. I have this perennial issue with Purvikalyani/Pantuvarali. That is a right side problem as well since I do not have a clean separation between the two ragas, and yesterday at a concert this was at play".

VK the artist could also be responsible for your dilemma

[varsha]

the artist could also be responsible

A bit like the case of the woman in a cartoon , shown reading a magazine , and is telling her husband :
Honey , I just took the compatibility test in this magazine , and you failed

[vasanthakokilam]

Purist, Varsha:

[cmlover]

She is the Right sahadharmiNi who would one of these days have Left her partner

[cmlover]

Here is an interesting anecdote.
Albert Einstein who failed his math test at university entrance was an expert violinist. He was also a connoisseur of Arts. He used to daydream a lot and imagined that he was travelling into deep space past the Sun but always returned to the Sun subconsciously which gave him the idea of 'Curved Space' which he characterized in his General RelativityTheory.
Even our Ramanujan obtained many complex results during his dream which were true but could not be proven easily (refer Hardy's memoirs) that he attributed to the inspiration from Namagiri Devi (his patron Goddess).
Many neurologists claim that such Genius were Right dominant where intuition prevails.
Our ancient Treatises on Kundalini Yoga mention the development of inner vision through controlling the 'iDa' (chandra kala) by deep control of the breath in the Left nostril!

I have personally found getting lost in thoughts listening to soft music, Flute or Veena (Mali/LGJ) very relaxing and helpful. Whereas listening to Vocal music, because of the subconscious attention to the lyrics stimulating but not so relaxing...