Yea, methinks I know of this; nice to hear it explained.
Playing bass in a rock band is well, fun, creative and a good night out wit da boys. It's a hobby I enjoy and has carried me through some times. But the thing I really like are the moments in playing where there seems little thought about what to do when and what's coming next. There is no "trying", it just happens and I'm along for the ride, like autopilot. And usually there's no doubt that it's the "right" notes and phrases; you know that's how it "should" be. Sometimes if asked exactly what I played, I have to work it out quickly, because I really wasn't thinking about it. They're elusive moments and/or states it seems, as most times I'm usually caught up in the technicality of playing or just remembering song structure. And there's the other guys and the nuances of how they're playing, which can add to or distract. But this also inspires new ideas and creative process. It's awesome when everybody's "in", hehe
Cool stuff.