A recent study in the Brain-Apparatus Communication: A Journal of Bacomics has shed new light on how the brains of music composers differ from those of non-composers. By using advanced neuroimaging techniques, researchers discovered that composers have more efficient neural communication pathways in certain parts of the brain. These findings offer insights into how musical training may shape the brain and enhance its capabilities.
Neural Pathways in Composers
The study focused on specific brain regions known for their role in communication between different parts of the brain. Composers were found to have more efficient connections in areas like the corpus callosum, anterior radiating corona, and the internal capsule. These regions help in transferring information across the brain, which may explain why composers can handle complex musical tasks so well.
Photo Credit: National Institutes of Health via PsyPost
In addition to these structural differences, the study also found that composers have stronger functional connectivity between the orbitofrontal cortex—a part of the brain involved in decision-making and creativity—and regions that handle higher cognitive processes. This means that the brain regions responsible for critical thinking and creativity are more closely linked in composers than in non-musicians.
The Role of Music Training
This study is part of a growing body of research that shows how music training can reshape the brain. The concept of brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity, explains how the brain can reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Engaging in challenging activities like learning a musical instrument is one way to promote this plasticity.
For example, other studies have shown that jazz musicians, who often improvise music on the spot, also show unique brain network connections. These musicians rely heavily on creativity and intuition, and their brains reflect this through stronger connections in areas involved in these processes.
Photo Credit: Calm Radio
What Does This Mean for Composers?
While the study reveals interesting differences in the brains of composers, it doesn’t conclusively prove that composing music causes these changes. It’s possible that people who already have these unique brain characteristics are more likely to become composers. Nonetheless, the findings suggest that musical composition can significantly influence how the brain functions and develops.
In summary, this research provides valuable insights into how the brain of a composer works differently from those who do not compose music. Whether these brain differences are a result of musical training or an inherent quality of composers, it’s clear that the art of composing music involves complex brain processes that set composers apart.
Conclusion
The findings from this study provide a deeper understanding of the neurological differences between music composers and non-musicians. While it remains unclear whether these differences are a result of musical training or if they predispose certain individuals to become composers, the research highlights the profound impact that music can have on the brain. For composers, this suggests that their craft is not just an artistic pursuit but also a complex neurological process that shapes and is shaped by their unique brain structure. As research in this field continues, we may gain even more insights into how musical composition and brain function are interconnected.
Let’s Collaborate!
Need help building the tone for your production? Hit us up – the Rareform Audio team would love to help you create the perfect soundtrack that speaks to your audience and enhances the power of your visual storytelling to new heights!
A weekly glimpse into the world of music & media with insider news, sync licensing opportunities, creative insight, and discussions.
Rareform Highlights
Black Sheep Music x Rareform Audio lands in the world of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, with music featured in the film’s campaign.
Tools and sounds built from our work in film, TV and trailers, now available for your own productions.
A final mix handoff needs more than audio files. Clear references, useful handles, and specific notes help the sound team preserve the decisions that give a music edit its meaning.
A track can sound compelling on its own and still change a scene in the wrong way. Choosing well starts with understanding what the music makes the audience believe.
How do modern composers meet tight deadlines without sacrificing creativity? Explore practical approaches to music production, from efficient DAW workflows to creative decision-making for film, TV, trailers, and advertising.
Christopher Nolan’s films show how practical effects and CGI can work together to support storytelling. From the rotating hallway in Inception to the real aircraft crash in Tenet, these scenes demonstrate how physical effects can make extraordinary moments feel more believable.
Rareform Audio provided music for the official PC trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, the latest chapter in Activision’s long-running franchise.
A new pilot study finds that music therapy may help reduce immediate cravings and influence emotional processing in people receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Researchers used EEG recordings and participant assessments to explore how active music-making may support addiction treatment.
Sound design and music are becoming harder to separate in modern movie trailers. From impacts and risers to distorted instruments and tuned sound effects, discover how these two disciplines now work together to shape the trailer experience.
Meet Echelon: Drum Hits, a cinematic percussion instrument built from the hits we use in Hollywood Blockbuster Trailers.
A personal sound palette can help composers develop a more recognizable sonic identity. Learn how to curate sounds, resample your own material, organize your library, and build a palette that supports your creative process.
Nathan Fields’ cover of “Seven Nation Army” was featured in an ESPN College Football spot on Disney+.
From silent-film trap drummers to massive hybrid trailer impacts, the cinematic drum hit has evolved alongside the technology used to create it. Here’s a look at how percussion became one of the most recognizable sounds in modern trailer production.
Why do some sounds feel cinematic while others feel sterile? Small imperfections can add physical detail, texture, and realism to music and sound design. Here’s how controlled imperfection can make audio feel more connected to the world on screen.
SOCAN is suing AI music company Suno in Canada, alleging the platform copied copyrighted songs without permission or compensation. The case adds to a growing number of legal challenges surrounding AI music, copyright and the use of protected works in AI training.
Sony Music has sued Kroger over at least 392 alleged unauthorized uses of its recordings in social media advertising. Here’s what the lawsuit says about music licensing, influencer content, expired licenses, and the $58.8 million figure circulating online.
Rareform Audio x Black Sheep Music’s track “Pitch Black,” composed by Cade Phillips and Nathan Fields, was featured in the official trailer for “Beware Boiúna.”
Hyped to share that our sound design elements were featured in the campaign for Masters of the Universe!
Introducing The Foundry by Rareform Audio, our new line of professional instruments, sounds, and production tools for film composers and record producers. Built from the same sounds, techniques, and real-world experience behind our work across film, trailers, television, video games, and records.
New research from Hong Kong Baptist University suggests that adding 60 to 90 minutes of sleep each night may improve key musical skills, including rhythmic stability, sightreading, and musical memory.
Major record companies are calling for global music charts to establish clearer rules for AI-generated music, with proposed standards centered on human creativity, authorization and legitimate streaming activity.
We are hyped to share that our track Ironwake by Trey Anderson and Nathan Fields was featured in the campaign for The Odyssey. Here's a quick look at the upcoming Christopher Nolan film and the legendary story that inspired it.
Lollapalooza 2026 is underway with sold-out crowds, a diverse lineup, and a renewed focus on artist discovery. As one of the world's biggest music festivals, the event continues to highlight how live performances help emerging artists reach new audiences while reinforcing the lasting impact of established acts.
The recorded music industry has introduced a proposal for standardized AI labels on streaming platforms. As AI-generated music continues to grow, the framework aims to improve transparency by distinguishing between fully AI-generated and AI-assisted recordings while raising new questions about implementation and industry-wide adoption.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expanding the role of music with its first-ever halftime show, a global soundtrack strategy, and a partnership with the Recording Academy. As music becomes a bigger part of the tournament's identity, the event highlights the growing connection between the music industry and major international sports.
Our remix of KRS-One's Step Into A World, created by Haukur Karlsson and Nathan Fields, is featured in Trailer 2 for Mutiny. Take a look at the project and learn more about the upcoming action thriller starring Jason Statham.
Music therapy continues to gain recognition as research highlights its role in neurological rehabilitation. New clinical programs and emerging technology are expanding how music supports recovery, reinforcing its growing impact beyond the entertainment industry.
John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" has become the unofficial anthem of the U.S. men's national soccer team during the FIFA Club World Cup. Here's how the 1971 classic found new life and why legacy songs continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
Benjamin Franklin's glass armonica earned a reputation as one of history's most mysterious musical instruments. From inspiring classical composers to fueling myths about its effects on the mind, its story reveals how unique sounds continue to shape music, perception, and creativity.
Hyped to share that our tracks “Bomb Squad” by Darby Phillips and Nathan Fields, along with “Ambush” by Nathan Fields, were featured in campaigns for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. From Warzone to the Season 03 Multiplayer Maps campaign, both spots delivered the fast paced energy the franchise is known for.
AI-generated music is filling streaming platforms faster than ever, but new research suggests listeners aren't embracing it. A University of Chicago study found that while AI tracks now make up a significant share of new uploads, the vast majority receive little to no engagement. Here's what the data reveals about music discovery, streaming, and the future of AI in the music industry.
The proposed No Fakes Act has moved one step closer to becoming US law after unanimously passing the Senate Judiciary Committee. As AI-generated voices and digital replicas become more common, the legislation highlights the growing conversation around creator protection, consent, and the future of AI in music.
