Daily Bow: Zap Your Way to Better Focus?

One of the most difficult things about music performance is the mental side of the art. We all spend hours in practice rooms getting notes under our fingers and music into our brains, but sometimes it can seem that, no matter how physically prepared we are–no matter how many times we’ve hit those notes and nailed those shifts–performances can crumble under pressure due to lack of mental preparation or focus. Even successful performances can be mentally uncomfortable, making an enjoyable experience for the audience an excruciating one for the performer. When auditions, recitals, and concerts get closer, the hunt for the elusive “zone” becomes more urgent, and this is a hunt that proves challenging for everyone.

While “the zone” or “flow” is a real, identifiable state of mind (scientists have observed it in athletes, musicians, and chess players, among others), finding it on a regular basis, especially in a time of need, can be as frustrating as trying to nail Jell-O to a tree. This idea of flow is defined widely as a mental state of being focused on a single thing (a rare, rare thing in today’s world) and is characterized by cessation of conscious thought. Other characteristics of the flow state are a feel of being unaware of the passing of time, a feeling of disconnection from the effort one is making, and commitment to a single goal.

Most musicians practice for thousands of hours to achieve the ability to access a state of flow at their discretion, and for many it’s a lifelong endeavor. Books upon books have been written about this, and it seems that, no matter how much we wish for it, there is no shortcut to getting in the zone. Or is there?

It turns out that there actually is. Kind of.

The shortcut turns out to be an electric shock, and this may or may not be a path you really want to go down. Research has shown that a small electrical current, like that of a 9-volt battery, can essentially jump-start the brain into a state of flow and focus. According to Sally Adee, technology feature editor at “New Scientistist” magazine who actually tried the transcranial stimulation herself, a company called Advanced Brain Monitoring in Carlsbad, California, discovered this little shortcut while working with a group of test subjects, soldiers who were training to use assault rifles. The soldiers were shocked with 2 milli-amps, and, according to Adee, the feeling after the shock was one of calm and being completely focused on the task at hand. Adee’s experiences were largely positive, but others have gone to greater lengths in search of a shock-induced state of flow, including some who have tried to shock themselves with a car battery, hoping for better results. One flow-chaser even became temporarily blind after his self-electrocution attempt. Clearly, this is a strategy that is not for everyone, but it’s certainly an interesting thing to think about.