Why it matters: 
Unlike expert musicians, children showed widespread deactivation in sensory brain regions during improvisation, rather than activation of areas linked to artistic voice, according to researcher Karen Barrett. Improvisation also strongly engaged the brain's reward centers, suggesting that making up music provides inherent pleasure even in beginners. This research suggests that children possess raw creative potential, and that engaging in musical creativity does not require extensive training to be neurologically meaningful and rewarding.

The power of creativity: 
Barrett also emphasizes that you don't have to be good at music -- or any other creative task -- to benefit from it. "My biggest takeaway is that we need to get out of our own way, turn off that critic and be creative," Barrett said.

SOURCE:  The Conversation

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