>> > Excuse me for my english, I'm Italian.
> > I have a strange question...
> >
> > If one person is very good to recognize *instantly* a song, a rhythm, a
> > melody...
> > Which is the mainly brain hemisphere activated, the left or the right ?
>> Generally musical appreciation is thought to be a function of the right
> hemisphere; however, the processes of recognition is a function of
> memory, and may involve the left hemisphere as well. The enjoyment of
> music has been associated with activity in BOTH hemispheres! Of course,
> only selective parts of the hemispheres are activated.
>> > And is there any connection with the "musical intelligence" and Creative
> > Talent in music ? Or are they two separate things?
>> Well, if you can say what "musical intelligence" is then somebody might
> have an answer to that. I do know that musical education levels relate
> to perception of musical stimuli, but that's not a surprise. I doubt
> anybody would even agree on what creative talent is, so I doubt there is
> a sensible answer to your question.
>> If I had to guess, I would say that quick recognition of music depends
> on how individuals access their memory, which in turn would depend on
> which senses were dominant and what their experience had been. Those
> things might indicate someone who was more interested in music and hence
> more likely to be musically creative, than creative in other ways.
> That's pure speculation though.
> <small snip>
I recently (this February> I had "scar tissue"; around 3/4 of a
"twinkie"; removed from my right temporal lobe; including the amygdala &
hippocampus. I didn't drink or smoke & was right handed pre-op. Now I
drink (almost to excess), accept any herb that's offered, and I am left
handed. I also have better short term memory, better sense of balance
(unless I drink or smoke too much), keep the beat much better now (with
the left hand & foot); less fear (much beter on ladders/roofs/tubular
full-body MRI's). My music appreciation/enjoyment is much better now.
Yes I realize these functions are "reverse hemisphere" controlled, and
that I'm missing a sizable chunk of the _right_ one. My paradigm is
that by removing the scar tissue, it allowed the opening of neural
pathways from the heretofore stunted ones. I also had problems pre-op
recognizing people I knew. I would recognize my wife from the shoulders
done; by the jacket, purse and shoes she wore, but not by looking at her
face. That too has improved. (Unless I'm ignoring her. <grin>)
