Radiolab A 4-Track Mind
4 snips
Dec 8, 2023 
Bob Milne, a renowned ragtime pianist celebrated for his astonishing multitasking abilities, joins reporter Jessica Benko, who has highlighted his unique talents. They discuss a daring challenge posed by a neurologist that tests musical complexity against cognitive limits. As Bob reveals his uncanny ability to play intricate pieces while interacting, they dive into the fascinating connection between music, memory, and emotion. This whimsical exploration showcases how some individuals, like Bob, defy conventional neurological expectations.
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Bob's Brain
- Bob Milne, a ragtime pianist, can play complex music while conversing, a feat most brains cannot handle.
- Neurologist Kerstin Bettermann investigated this and discovered an even more astonishing ability.
Four Symphonies
- Bob claims to hear multiple symphonies simultaneously in his head.
- He successfully tracked four different symphonies in his mind during an fMRI experiment.
fMRI Experiment
- In an experiment, conductor Peter Perret failed to track two symphonies at once, finding the task overwhelming.
- Bob, however, accurately tracked four symphonies simultaneously, astonishing the researchers.
