Brain, Movement, and Song
Thursday 4th March 2021, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
This workshop will provide a gross overview of brain anatomy with a focus on how the brain controls movement, and the voice in particular.
Motivating case
- Meet the Chimpanzees: Viki and Washoe
- Why can Apes use sing language, but not speak or sing?
- Is there something special about the way that the human brain controls the voice?
Gross brain primer
- The four lobes
- Grey matter vs white matter
- Networks
Neuroscience of movement
- Primary motor cortex
- Somatotopy
- Descending motor pathways
- Movement from electrical stimulation
- Paresis from damage, e.g., stroke
- Cortico-striatal loop
- Functions
- Executing motor plans
- Learning new motor plans
- Anatomical components & their connections
- Supplementary Motor Area
- Basal Ganglia
- Thalamus
- Relevant disorders
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Functions
- Cortico-Cerebellar Loop
- Functions
- Correcting movement errors
- Sensory feedback
- Anatomical components
- Cerebellum
- Thalamus
- Functions
- An example from Dance: fMRI Tango!
- Lead with your cortico-striatal loop
- Follow with your cortico-cerebellar loop
Neuroscience of song
- Specialisation for voice motor control
- Uniqueness to humans
- Electrical stimulation & Lesions
- Brain imaging studies
- Song
- Speech
- Emotions
Birdsong
- Avian song production system
- Analogy with human primary motor cortex
- Avian song learning system
- Analogy with human cortico-striatal loop
- Brain imaging evidence
- Vocal imitation fMRI
Summary
- Humans share a motor system with other mammals
- But with some voice specialisation
- Similar specialisation also appear in songbirds
Dr Michel Belyk
Dr Michel Belyk studies the vocal system of the human brain. Humans have a degree of control over the larynx that is unparalleled among primates. Acquiring...
Sorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Thursday 16th May 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
(London Time)
Breathing and Support Based on Accent Method Breathing
Dr Ron Morris
In this course, we explore the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and their application in singing, focusing on Accent Method of Breathing.
Tuesday 21st May 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
An Introduction to VoceVista
Dana Zenobi
If you want to use VoceVista software but are struggling with how to get started, this introductory session will get you oriented and ready to go! This will be a judgment-free zone; I am looking forward to answering all your burning VoceVista how-to questions from a studio teacher’s perspective.
Tuesday 21st May 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 29th May 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
VoceVista Bundle
Dana Zenobi
Attend both of the upcoming VoceVista short courses with Dana Zenobi for the reduced price of £50 (saving £10).