ScienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2009) — Learning to juggle leads to changes in the white matter of the brain, an Oxford University study has shown.

Researchers cautioned that this should not be attempted at home without a doctor's approval. "You could put your eye out! Further research is needed."

Very interesting, Rick. I think piano playing is similar to juggling. While playing at an accomplished level, a pianist is attempting to do multiple things with their mind, hands, arms, and legs.

We're counting multiple rhythms, putting different rhythms against each other, including those with conflicting beat pulses, we're pedalling differently and constantly changing the pedalling depending upon the phrasing, and harmonic textures, adjusting the tone quality and speed of the music. This all happening while we're also attempting to turn pages, deal with background noise, and keep a steady underlying beat.

If this ain't juggling, I don't know what is.

John

Oh no! Twenty-five years ago when I was in law school, juggling, or learning how to, was on my to do list. I thought it would be a completely different activity and help me to stay sane. I never quite found the time to devote to it, and some may question whether or not I stayed sane, but I left juggling on my list until I was diagnosed with PD. I felt it was one of the few benefits of PD to edit my list and juggling was gleefully removed as one less thing to accomplish. Now I read that it might improve my brain, but the end of the article states that learning any new skill may have similar benefits.

Well, shall I get out the scarves and bean bags (they don't roll away from you like balls do) or shall I learn Spanish? There are so many choices when attempting to strength one's brain.

katherine

I juggled regularly in my 20's. Got to a point of respectability (or at least non-embarrassment) -- lots of 3 ball tricks, and comfortable with 4. A year ago I decided to pick it up again to energize dormant neurons and regain some movement symmetry. Alas, at first I could keep it going for about 40 times, then the next time 30, third time I'd drop after 20 tosses, etc. Unlike when I was learning and would improve at each go, now I got worse the more I did it.
So it seems I won't run off and join the circus after all (though it's tempting -- my wife directed circuses for 12 years .

Jon