Chichester University Scientists Discover Being A Rock Drummer Is Good For The Brain

Have you heard the old jokes about drummers?

 — "What do you call a drummer who breaks up with his girlfriend?"
 — "Homeless."

 — "Did you hear about the drummer who went to university?"
 — "No."
 — "Me, neither."

But now the joke is on the jokers.

University of Chichester scientists who've studied drummers in rock bands say playing the 'skins' is not only a "potent stimulus" to the mind, but can actually make changes that improve many types of brain function.

The researchers, who've joined with other scientists at universities in Hartpury and Kings College London, also say the brain's connectivity becomes enhanced, movement control improves, and practice can make beneficial changes to people experiencing autism, too.

Now, the people behind the studies have released an animated film, available on YouTube, to showcase the good that rock drumming can do.

The short video is a culmination of a ten-year investigation by a group of scientists from several UK universities that collaborated with iconic drummers including Blondie's Clem Burke and Skunk Anansie's Mark Richardson to explore how drumming practice affects the brain.

Reader in Sport and Exercise Physiology Dr Marcus Smith, from the University of Chichester, is one of the lead scientists of the group, aptly named the Clem Burke Drumming Project.

He said:

"Drumming is a unique activity that is both physically and mentally challenging.

"It acts as a potent intervention in experimental trials that seeks to provide insight into how humans learn and subsequently behave.

"Our hope is that this new video will stimulate broad discussion and feedback that will help shape the direction of future rock drumming-based research.

"Fundamental to our work is collaboration and we welcome dialogue with any interested parties who may share similar areas of interest."

The group's most recent scientific study, revealed in the five-minute video, was published in the acclaimed Scientific Reports journal earlier this year.

The investigation showed that drumming brings about positive changes in brain structure and function, leading to enhanced drumming performance. 

It also supported scientist's previous work which demonstrated that playing leads to structural changes in the networks of the cerebellum, which sit below and behind the main structure of the brain and are associated with plasticity: the ability to change as the result of experience.

The idea behind the new animated video was to make the scientific investigation more accessible to a wider audience, according to Kings College London's Professor Steve Williams.

He said:

"This animation helps to showcase a new collaboration between art and science.

"We sincerely hope that our fun approach reaches the widest possible audience."

Dean of Research at Hartpury University Professor Steve Draper, one of the co-founders of the Clem Burke Drumming Project, added:

"It is exciting to see our findings communicated in such an engaging and accessible way.

"There is enormous potential to improve physical and mental wellbeing through learning to drum."

A podcast discussing the positive effects of drumming on mental health is available on the Supporting Champions channel at https://www.supportingchampions.co.uk 

For more about work undertaken by the Clem Burke Drumming Project research group go to https://www.clemburkedrummingproject.org .

There's more on Dr Marcus Smith and his work at the University of Chichester at https://www.chi.ac.uk/marcus-smith