Kinesiology & adaption through exercise

[Jeremy Bender]

Specifically, The study of human movement & Neuroplasticity may be of interest to drummers and other musicians. How practicing and playing affects brain function.

From Wikipedia...
Adaptive plasticity

Recent[when?] empirical evidence indicates the significant impact of physical activity on brain function; for example, greater amounts of physical activity are associated with enhanced cognitive function in older adults.[43] The effects of physical activity can be distributed throughout the whole brain, such as higher gray matter density and white matter integrity after exercise training,[44][45] and/or on specific brain areas, such as greater activation in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.[46] Neuroplasticity is also the underlying mechanism of skill acquisition. For example, after long-term training, pianists showed greater gray matter density in sensorimotor cortex and white matter integrity in the internal capsule compared to non-musicians.


So maybe drumming is healthy activity for our brains just not our hearing!

 

[Lunasee]

Speaking of neuroplasticity, I have read multiple studies on the act of drumming (four limb coordination). Signals traverse the brain from side to side during this activity. These signals travel through the corpus callosum via axons. These axons are covered in a material called myelin. Myelin increases the speed that these signals traverse at. Practicing over time, the myelin gets thicker allowing even faster signal transmission.
So... I surmise that since we can think faster, drummers must be the smartest ones in the band.

 

[SmoothOperator]

Despite the stereotypes and certain athletic departments related to professional drafts, athletics is hugely correlated with IQ and athletes do very well at every level of education.

 

[MazdaRex]

Anecdotally, I find learning to play drum set a huge brain exercise! Getting all four limbs doing different things, even for straightforward classic rock/blues, is a huge brain workout and recharge for me. It demands concentration and clears my head in very positive ways.
I expect complex drumming is even more challenging and rewarding.

 

[ravenson]

After more than half a lifetime of limb independence will I be able to stop thinking about four things at the same time ?

A race car driver is a close comparison to a drummer . Video games don't count .

 

[Lunasee]

After more than half a lifetime of limb independence will I be able to stop thinking about four things at the same time ?

A race car driver is a close comparison to a drummer . Video games don't count .

Yes. You develop a feel.

 

[toddbishop]

That makes sense. Piano is kind of special-- it's kind of a deep matrix of stuff you have to process to do it. You wonder how pianists memorize a whole recital's worth of material, but it's so particular in such a deep way-- meaning, it's hard-- that it's impossible not to memorize.

Mostly drumming independence is not that complex. The thing I've seen that approaches that is The New Breed-- there's a similar level of depth there.

 

[Push pull stroke]

Despite the stereotypes and certain athletic departments related to professional drafts, athletics is hugely correlated with IQ and athletes do very well at every level of education.

Only up to a certain point. Beyond about IQ 120, there’s a negative correlation between athletic ability and increasing IQ. Which is why you don’t see a lot of pro athletes becoming famous for scientific breakthroughs after they retire from their athletic career lol

 

[SmoothOperator]

Only up to a certain point. Beyond about IQ 120, there’s a negative correlation between athletic ability and increasing IQ. Which is why you don’t see a lot of pro athletes becoming famous for scientific breakthroughs after they retire from their athletic career lol

You don't see many famous live scientists at all.

 

[I-P]

 

[GetAgrippa]

The definition of neuroplasticity keeps evolving initially (in my college years) it was how after stroke or traumatic brain injury how the brain can reorganize so areas adopt new functions. I remember in a medial school neuro class they showed a radiograph of a child with hydrocephaly and it's gray matter of brain looked like a hollow basketball with just a thin layer of cerebral cortex. I'd assume the child mentally incapacitated but actually the child had a genius IQ and highly functional. I was like dang that's pretty much against everyth9ing I've been learning thus far in neuro classes. Much like most of my education it was thought all neurons in human body couldn't divide-but then, through studying birds, neurogenesis was discovered in the hippocampus of humans. Now neuroplasticity basically describes all brain changes through development till death. So like losing a lot of hearing leaves the auditory cortex without stimulation-it digresses and that has been associated with increased risk of dementia-so wear hearing aids even though they don't help that much-at least in conversation. Other studies find after losing hearing the auditory cortex can adopt new functions. Some of the early descriptions of neuroplasticity were falsified -there was resistance to notion. But further studies clearly demonstrated environment, epigenetics, and functional use of our brain playa a big role in regulating pathways and that it is modified experientially. Really it's logical because if the brain can display neuroplasticity after an injury well then what's to say that it has not always had a role in normal brain function. It's a new way of thinking because biology has been gene-centric (evolutionary biologist and general biologist) for a long time in focus (so all info flows outward and the notion we are hard wired-which is false), but turns out Lamarck wasn't completely wrong and environment has a big impact on gene expression and emergent traits-so info flows both ways. The environment can influence our brain. Use it or lose it applies to more than muscle.

But lay people are often naive with belief that all we believe in science is actually true. We don't know that because it's a process that can only find evidence to support or falsify it. Then I'd ask what does that mean? It means we still don't know. Any topic you'll find on PubMed will have diverse findings it's never a clear picture of all the evidence leads here. For all we know about our brain or even the universe it pales in comparison to what we don't know-and part of that equation is because we don't know what percent of present knowledge is positive (actually true) and what is negative knowledge (it's false)? That's how progress works-neurons can't divide for hundreds of years of evidence-now discovered they do. Same science applied all this time. It amazes me how many ideas have been dogmatic with hundred years of positive knowledge and the evidence supports is statistically significant so you think it's highly likely to be true (after all this time and all the studies)-but suddenly it gets falsified and all that data and studies must have been some statistical ecological fallacy. A lot of race studies were based on the notion "there is a race" well genetics falsified that-and since then further studies have falsified numerous studies and their findings that were based on the false category. Science focuses on one thing usually so it's a guided process of elimination you keep searching for truth with a process that either finds support to keep it going or it's falsified and that's it. Or is it? Oh no just like Lamarck being falsified by Darwin well now there is NeoLamarckism title (a nod to Lamarck) because of epigenetic layer of genetic controls. So old ideas can come back to life and old accepted idea die. So much has changed in my lifetime it's unbelievable. I'm a cornucopia of scientific knowledge but now I don't how much is still true (positive) and negative knowledge (it's been falsified while I've been away).

 

[Croatian Man]

The definition of neuroplasticity keeps evolving initially (in my college years) it was how after stroke or traumatic brain injury how the brain can reorganize so areas adopt new functions. I remember in a medial school neuro class they showed a radiograph of a child with hydrocephaly and it's gray matter of brain looked like a hollow basketball with just a thin layer of cerebral cortex. I'd assume the child mentally incapacitated but actually the child had a genius IQ and highly functional. I was like dang that's pretty much against everyth9ing I've been learning thus far in neuro classes. Much like most of my education it was thought all neurons in human body couldn't divide-but then, through studying birds, neurogenesis was discovered in the hippocampus of humans. Now neuroplasticity basically describes all brain changes through development till death. So like losing a lot of hearing leaves the auditory cortex without stimulation-it digresses and that has been associated with increased risk of dementia-so wear hearing aids even though they don't help that much-at least in conversation. Other studies find after losing hearing the auditory cortex can adopt new functions. Some of the early descriptions of neuroplasticity were falsified -there was resistance to notion. But further studies clearly demonstrated environment, epigenetics, and functional use of our brain playa a big role in regulating pathways and that it is modified experientially. Really it's logical because if the brain can display neuroplasticity after an injury well then what's to say that it has not always had a role in normal brain function. It's a new way of thinking because biology has been gene-centric (evolutionary biologist and general biologist) for a long time in focus (so all info flows outward and the notion we are hard wired-which is false), but turns out Lamarck wasn't completely wrong and environment has a big impact on gene expression and emergent traits-so info flows both ways. The environment can influence our brain. Use it or lose it applies to more than muscle.

But lay people are often naive with belief that all we believe in science is actually true. We don't know that because it's a process that can only find evidence to support or falsify it. Then I'd ask what does that mean? It means we still don't know. Any topic you'll find on PubMed will have diverse findings it's never a clear picture of all the evidence leads here. For all we know about our brain or even the universe it pales in comparison to what we don't know-and part of that equation is because we don't know what percent of present knowledge is positive (actually true) and what is negative knowledge (it's false)? That's how progress works-neurons can't divide for hundreds of years of evidence-now discovered they do. Same science applied all this time. It amazes me how many ideas have been dogmatic with hundred years of positive knowledge and the evidence supports is statistically significant so you think it's highly likely to be true (after all this time and all the studies)-but suddenly it gets falsified and all that data and studies must have been some statistical ecological fallacy. A lot of race studies were based on the notion "there is a race" well genetics falsified that-and since then further studies have falsified numerous studies and their findings that were based on the false category. Science focuses on one thing usually so it's a guided process of elimination you keep searching for truth with a process that either finds support to keep it going or it's falsified and that's it. Or is it? Oh no just like Lamarck being falsified by Darwin well now there is NeoLamarckism title (a nod to Lamarck) because of epigenetic layer of genetic controls. So old ideas can come back to life and old accepted idea die. So much has changed in my lifetime it's unbelievable. I'm a cornucopia of scientific knowledge but now I don't how much is still true (positive) and negative knowledge (it's been falsified while I've been away).

This is quite the dissertation - qualifies for as a Thesis, IMO. Neuroplasticity has been gaining plenty of Steam in the Mind-Body Connection annals. It is widely discussed on You Tube Videos by Neuro-Scientists. I posted elsrwhere on this forum how NP can help you to "train" your brain to speed up your Slow Hand! I have tried to apply those "theories" by using my left hand (my slow hand) to more than I was accustomed to over my lifetime.....holding my coffee cup, brushing my teeth, and so on. Has it helped ? Yes, to a degree. NP Tricks the Brain to use different pathways. Neuro-Psychologists use NP in their practices ( I went to one for Pain Management Pre- COVID to help with my Chronic Pains from Spinal Arthritis) . She was able to semi-hypnotize me (the power of Suggestion is at the forefront of Hypnotism) to help me deal with the anger and anxiety I was experiencing. Just another Tool in the Toolbox!

 

[GetAgrippa]

Oh I agree Croatian Man just regaling my experience in my lifetime how fast things changed but also resistance to change too. I remember in was late 70s when it was discovered genes have introns and exons, and alternate splicing. I wrote a paper on it in a bio class and my professor hadn't heard of it (really impressed them got an A+). People who lose their vision often reorganize their visual cortex and it adopts new functions. I think my brain had a major neuroreorganization because of neuroplasticity from certain "experiences" that promoted the change. I wouldn't doubt I had some concussions too-I only recently discovered during my physical my doc was asking me when I broke my collar bone and I told her "I didn't know I broke my collar bone?". ROFL. I didn't have a dang bit of sense during that period and got injured a lot but I always seemed to heal up fine-but it's like he died and now I'm reincarnated some other dude. The husband of the sister of a friend of mine had a procedure done and after the anesthesia it's like he woke up a completely different person. He went from an aggressive jokester redneck to this passive, more reserved person who seemed like he lost that wildness. He recently died from a heart attack but even his three brothers said he wasn't Robert anymore and their brother died a few years back really. Like he woke up another person-that's freaky.

 

[Croatian Man]

Oh I agree Croatian Man just regaling my experience in my lifetime how fast things changed but also resistance to change too. I remember in was late 70s when it was discovered genes have introns and exons, and alternate splicing. I wrote a paper on it in a bio class and my professor hadn't heard of it (really impressed them got an A+). People who lose their vision often reorganize their visual cortex and it adopts new functions. I think my brain had a major neuroreorganization because of neuroplasticity from certain "experiences" that promoted the change. I wouldn't doubt I had some concussions too-I only recently discovered during my physical my doc was asking me when I broke my collar bone and I told her "I didn't know I broke my collar bone?". ROFL. I didn't have a dang bit of sense during that period and got injured a lot but I always seemed to heal up fine-but it's like he died and now I'm reincarnated some other dude. The husband of the sister of a friend of mine had a procedure done and after the anesthesia it's like he woke up a completely different person. He went from an aggressive jokester redneck to this passive, more reserved person who seemed like he lost that wildness. He recently died from a heart attack but even his three brothers said he wasn't Robert anymore and their brother died a few years back really. Like he woke up another person-that's freaky.

This is a Fascinating Thread ! Being the storyteller that I am (hey I'm 72 ,a Senior Citizen, retired, what else can I do. LOL..... aside form playing my Drums an hour a day), pertaining to "Changes" that occur in the Brain. Some years ago, My Uncle Pete (not really a Blood Uncle, but a very Nice Man inn our Family), at about 75 years old, with all his faculties, purchased a new Buick {1973ish]. It was just delivered, and while driving out of the dealership lot, was hit by a City Bus. He banged his head into the dashboard to my recollection. Probably concussed but I don't remember if there was hospitalization. A few weeks later, he Changed. He developed Sunset Syndrome, roving out of the house at night , not knowing where he was, worrying my Aunt silly. He died a few years later - a completely changed man. I have heard of other similar stories with aged people, who fall and bump their heads.... They are altered from the Blow - never the same after that.

In my own instance, I suffer with chronic pains and terrible stiffness from Spinal Arthritis from the lower back to the top of my head as well OA in both Knees, left hip. The right knee is Bone on Bone, I'm wrestling with the dreaded knee replacement surgery consideration. The Spinal conditions which include multiple sites of Mild to Moderate Stenosis contribute to the stiffness throughout my body - creating in turn Anxiety form the constant Tensed Muscles. In previous post I mentioned the visitation to a Neuro-Psychologist who was able to have me get a "handle" on the pain driven anxiety. The visitations (about 2x to 3X a month) when COVID hit. Since then I try ANYTHING that offers a possibility of helping me. Acupuncture did very little after 35 session, or 4 or 5 different PT sessions did little to relieve symptoms, I tried 6 different Chiropractors, 2 of which did help somewhat. I have made myself a Lab Rat - taking almost every known herbal supplement that is purported to help with arthritis and Inflammation in general. Some do help to a certain extent, others not so much. Interestingly, Inflammation has now become Public Enemy No. 1 for many ailments in the body. (and the Brain - Dementia has now been declared Diabetes of the Brain! Sugar is the Culprit).

 

[Croatian Man]

I haven't seen too many posts on this interesting thread lately. I am doing my best to exercise Neuroplasticity to see if I can engage and better the speed and control of my left hand (on the Drums !! LOL). I usually do subtle things like using the left hand to brush teeth, hold my coffee cup, etc. Has it helped with "Tricking" the brain? I think so. I'm seeing some strides with better control on some hits / beats. Keep in mind I'm just a Hobbyist Player of Drums playing about 1 hour a day at Home as a retirement pleasure. In addition, I have added using Grippers in both hands, but with more emphasis on the Left hand. They are excellent for improving forearm strength as well - I used to use them sparingly in my full workout days some years ago. Picked them up again lately - seeing a difference after a few weeks. Not just with drum stick handling, but I have improved my ability to hold my Hedge Trimmer with more aplomb. Also, Get yourself a Pensi Pinkie (or Spalding) handball , squeeze that regularly and try this : Toss it back and forth between your hands with your eyes looking forward! Seems to provide a good exercise for coordination/ Reflexes. Happy Birthday AMERICA !!

 

[rustyfingers]

I'm 64 with Stage 2 Parkinson's. It's not just playing drums that helps, it's taking a piece of music and having to concentrate to play it correctly. I don't read well but I work every night on reading bass sheet music (ultimate-guitar offers scores/fake book) and reading drum parts. The playing helps, the reading/playing is almost miraculous. My Parkinson's goes away for the hour or so while I'm playing and it has a significant affect on my sleep. I feel better the next day and my family can defiantly notice a difference in my speech and general well being. I also walk, A LOT, during the day while I'm at work. I also do stretching and try to eat healthy. All contribute but the drumming is BY FAR the most rewarding. I still having timing issues as sometimes my limbs just fail to react when ordered so I'll never be in another band. I played piano last night for the first time in a long, long time (Space Captain. M.D.A.E.) and it was nice but didn't have the same results but wouldn't have been possible without the drumming/bass playing. I really believe that. Being all buggered up SUCKS, but sitting around waiting to get worse sucks even more. "When you stop moving, you stop moving"

 

[Lunasee]

I'm 64 with Stage 2 Parkinson's. It's not just playing drums that helps, it's taking a piece of music and having to concentrate to play it correctly. I don't read well but I work every night on reading bass sheet music (ultimate-guitar offers scores/fake book) and reading drum parts. The playing helps, the reading/playing is almost miraculous. My Parkinson's goes away for the hour or so while I'm playing and it has a significant affect on my sleep. I feel better the next day and my family can defiantly notice a difference in my speech and general well being. I also walk, A LOT, during the day while I'm at work. I also do stretching and try to eat healthy. All contribute but the drumming is BY FAR the most rewarding. I still having timing issues as sometimes my limbs just fail to react when ordered so I'll never be in another band. I played piano last night for the first time in a long, long time (Space Captain. M.D.A.E.) and it was nice but didn't have the same results but wouldn't have been possible without the drumming/bass playing. I really believe that. Being all buggered up SUCKS, but sitting around waiting to get worse sucks even more. "When you stop moving, you stop moving"

Very true. If you rest, you rust. I'm glad that you're working on it.