Picture a group of musicians that tour the country annually to sold-out shows. They have a deeply devoted fan base, and many of these fans return night after night. Some even follow the band from one city to the next. Now imagine that when this band performs, it creates a massive hyperbrain, melding the minds of its members with one another and the audience.
Surprisingly, this is not the plot of a science fiction B-movie called Night of the Jam Band: Attack of the Mind-Melding Hyperbrain. It is a glimpse into the neuroscience of music. Scientists have long been intrigued by the impact of music on the mind and its evolutionary purpose. In his book Musicophilia, the famous neurologist Oliver Sacks says that “our auditory systems, our nervous systems, are indeed exquisitely tuned for music”. From an evolutionary perspective, humanity’s intricate relationship to music may be related to its numerous benefits for both the individual and society. Scientists believe music increases empathy, improves communication, and strengthens social cohesion. As social neuroscientist David Greenberg explains, “music connects us to our humanity…it is rooted in important brain mechanisms.”
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Research into these brain mechanisms and collaborative and shared musical experiences indicates that music is much more than subjective entertainment. Experiments conducted at Max Plank Institutes revealed that musicians' brain waves synchronize when they play together. They found this synchronization essential to achieving precise musical coordination and observed that players can form inter-brain connections or "hyperbrain" networks.
These findings suggest musical ensembles, such as legendary "jam bands" that require exacting cohesion, may be synchronizing brain waves and creating a hyperbrain that unites thoughts in a seemingly effortless manner. Bands like the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, and Widespread Panic have often alluded to the misconception that they are merely jamming when they are actually maintaining high-flow states that demand intense focus to remain synchronized amidst improvisation. Interestingly, neuroimaging studies of experienced musicians in high-flow states showed distinct variations from those of less experienced musicians. As Jerry Garcia related, "you can't play the way the Grateful Dead plays without working at it. It's not something that just happened to us'". John Bell reiterated this idea when he explained that improvisation is "the difference between playing while you're asleep and playing while you're awake… you need to have an awareness of the other players and know what they're doing".
The awareness that John Bell refers to is a form of communication that seems nearly telepathic or "hyperbrain." This musically induced telepathy is not unheard of in jam bands. Record Producer Johnny Sandlin, known for his work with the The Allman Brothers Band, touched on this unspoken communication. Describing the countless musicians who played with Bruce Hampton, also known as Col. Bruce, Sandlin recalled: "That's what they all say, the guys who have played with Hampton. He infects their brains, stabs their hearts from behind". In a 2005 interview, Mike Greenhaus told Col. Bruce, "It's been said that after shows, you don't communicate with your band-mates verbally. Instead, you prefer to talk telepathically". Bruce's response? "Boy, you would hope so. On a great night… that happens".
To take things a step further, this mind-melding communication extends beyond the band to include the audience as well. A publication in the journal NeuroImage reports that musicians experience brain synchronization with audience members during performances, and this link is more robust when listeners enjoy the music. Considering the extreme popularity of jam band concerts, this research suggests that band members and audiences would experience strong connections. This phenomenon might explain why Jerry Garcia said, "We do our best playing publicly. We don't do our best playing privately, which is stock words from a lot of musicians". Jimmy Herring attests to this as well. In a 2019 interview with Brett Hutchins, he remarked, "The crowd is tremendously influential in the music when improv comes… Without an engaged crowd, the improv can lack inspiration and direction… This is why playing live in the studio can sometimes lack a certain kind of energy".
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Such interchange between the audience and the band is highly significant for concert attendees. It shifts the audience from mere observer to active participant, creating an enriching collective experience. Neuroscientist and singer Indre Viskontas explains, "the sense of belonging is comforting… akin to a religious experience…where you find the ecstasy of finding meaning in connecting". In a 2016 interview with Timothy Anderl, John Bell of Widespread Panic described a similar feeling when he said pursuing his craft "fulfills a sense of camaraderie, and there's a spiritual nature to it".
The mind-melding nature of music and the transcendent, collective experiences of jam band concerts create devoted fans and an extremely lucrative touring season, yet the benefits of such experiences are more substantial than ticket sales and revenue. A study published in the American Psychologist showed that collaborative music was linked to increased dopamine, a neurotransmitter related to pleasure and anticipation. Have you ever wondered about those extra-long improvised sets that jam-band crowds love? Well, there may be an answer for that, too. The longer the delay, the greater the (dopamine) reward. Other benefits of shared musical experiences included a reduction in the stress hormone cortisol and an increase in the "love hormone" oxytocin. Based on this data and numerous other findings, scientists believe that making and enjoying music together promotes social bonding, empathy, and communication.
The many transformative and positive qualities of shared musical experiences may explain why jam bands have developed such loyal fans. The next time a jam band comes to town, why not join in on a temporary mind-meld of music, pleasure, and love? Science says yes.
Written by Mimi Sadoshima
Mimi Sadoshima is a digital creative and writer. Her multi-disciplinary background in the arts and neuropsychology includes research at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and design studies at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). She loves projects that explore the liminal space between science and the arts. Currently, she resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she is working on a fantasy novel and hoping to meet some amiable local ghosts.
