The Musical Brain

This great BBC article discusses some of the amazing research being done on music and the brain. Scientists have found that stroke patients who have lost the ability to speak can regain this ability by learning to sing their words.

It seems that we use a different part of our brain to sing than to process everyday spoken language. In fact, professional singers have a highly developed "singing center," which is located in the right hemisphere of the brain (the "creative" half of the brain). And not only is singing different than spoken language, but it appears that listening to music engages the brain in a dramatically different way than normal audition.

If you've got a minute you should check out the article. And if you've got three minutes you can listen to Measuring Cups by Andrew Bird while you read (my favorite song about brains).

And if you really like learning about the incredible role music plays in the human brain, I highly recommend Musicophilia by the one and only Oliver Sacks.

Snow Day [MOVIE & PICS]

I've returned from my blogging hiatus to share/brag about what has become a defining New York City adventure for me. Manhattan got caught in quite the snowstorm this Wednesday, which resulted in my school closing.

So as any self-respecting students would, my roommate Shannon and I decided to go to Central Park and play in the snow.

You can also find my pictures from the excursion on Picasa.