Hyperscanning and Mirror Neurons: Musical Ensemble Playing from a Neuroscientific Perspective

Musicians performing in “small size” − as a duo or a quartet – are often admired for their elegance and skillfulness. This chapter explores the reasons why. The perspective is that of cognitive neuroscience, whereby processes on the micro and macro levels are considered. Part one takes a closer look at the special “mirror neurons”. The way they function within certain regions of the brain enables the players to quickly understand the movements of others and react precisely on time. In part two, a new and promising measuring method – called “hyperscanning” – will be introduced and discussed from all sides. Hyperscanning with EEG allows the recording of brain activity from two or more musicians simultaneously while playing in a concert. These inter-brain EEG patterns can then be analyzed for their spectral content and phase information, from which conclusions can be drawn about the state of brain synchrony and its change over time, or about the strategies employed during performance.