DETROIT, MI -- A pair of scientists who got together to talk about rap music in New York on Sunday used Eminem as an example to illustrate how the brain works when a creative genius goes to work.

The Detroit native, known at the start of his career for his performances in improvised freestyle rap battles, probably has no problem shutting down the part of his brain that deals with self-consciousness to make room for off-the-cuff creativity, according to psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman and neuroscientist Heather Berlin.

"He probably has more advanced connections in terms of his language areas," said Kaufman, according to New York Magazine.

"Over time, when you practice something, a cognitive skill or a motor skill, you're developing connections in the brain. So I'm sure his brain would look slightly different."

He made the comments at an event exploring the neuroscience of creativity, with a focus on improvisation and freestyle rapping.

"I would predict that his dorsolateral prefrontal cortex might be smaller than average. That's the area of the brain that filters curse words."

Berlin explained further:

"The medial prefrontal cortex has increased activation when they're improvising compared to doing a memorized rap, which has to do with the internal generation of new ideas," she said.

"There's decreased activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which has to do with your sense of self. When that part turns down, you lose the filter that makes sure you conform to social norms, which allows for the free flow of information. That can be a really good thing, because on stage consciousness can get in the way."

More here.