Mental Illness And Musicians Writing A Song Essay

Mental Illness and Musicians Writing a song can be a grueling process if the inspiration isn’t there. Without an emotional basis to stimulate inspiration, nothing of creative value can be accomplished. Musicians consistently look to their emotions when it comes to song writing. Passion is a key ingredient in producing something of artistic significance. By that logic, a more emotional person should also be a more creative one. But what about those with bipolar disorder? Wouldn’t their periods of mania be a sort of creative gold mine? Mental illness can drive creativity and can be proven through the examination of established musicians, the use of music as therapy, and the chemical structure of the brain itself. Neurotransmitters in the brain can give researchers insight as to why people feel the way they do. Dopamine, for example, is the neurotransmitter associated with satisfaction. Activities such as watching your favorite TV show or eating your favorite food can caus e the release of dopamine in the brain. Moreover, dopamine can act as a stimulant to increase communication between neurons and widen the brain’s range of effects. (Hillman). A study by Dr. Fredrik Ullen, of the Karolinska Institute, examined the dopamine receptors in â€Å"highly creative types† and found that their dopamine systems highly resemble those of people who suffer from schizophrenia. In both cases, there is a low density of dopamine receptors in the thalamus, which acts as aShow MoreRelatedBipolar Disorder in Song Lyrics Essay1024 Words   |  5 Pagesopen. 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