What I found when I scanned the brains of kids creating tunes on the piano

Playing improv music activates the reward system of the brain.

By: Karen Barrett, University of California, San Francisco, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 29, 2026

Words: 1,175

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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By Karen Barrett, University of California, San Francisco

Research shows that improvisation and creativity are good for the brain. In an episode of the Greater Good Science Center’s “Science of Happiness” podcast, host Shuka Kalantari talked to Karen Barrett about what happens in the brain when people improvise music. Barrett is an assistant professor in the Institute for Health & Aging at the University of California, San Francisco who researches the effects of …

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