Mirror Neuron Activity During Audiovisual Appreciation of Opera Performance
Opera is a performing art in which music plays the leading role, and the acting of singers has a synergistic effect with the music. The mirror neuron system represents the neurophysiological mechanism underlying the coupling of perception and action. Mirror neuron activity is modulated by the approp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563031/full |
| _version_ | 1797538113761837056 |
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| author | Shoji Tanaka |
| author_facet | Shoji Tanaka |
| author_sort | Shoji Tanaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Opera is a performing art in which music plays the leading role, and the acting of singers has a synergistic effect with the music. The mirror neuron system represents the neurophysiological mechanism underlying the coupling of perception and action. Mirror neuron activity is modulated by the appropriateness of actions and clarity of intentions, as well as emotional expression and aesthetic values. Therefore, it would be reasonable to assume that an opera performance induces mirror neuron activity in the audience so that the performer effectively shares an embodied performance with the audience. However, it is uncertain which aspect of opera performance induces mirror neuron activity. It is hypothesized that although auditory stimuli could induce mirror neuron activity, audiovisual perception of stage performance is the primary inducer of mirror neuron activity. To test this hypothesis, this study sought to correlate opera performance with brain activity as measured by electroencephalography (EEG) in singers while watching an opera performance with sounds or while listening to an aria without visual stimulus. We detected mirror neuron activity by observing that the EEG power in the alpha frequency band (8–13 Hz) was selectively decreased in the frontal-central-parietal area when watching an opera performance. In the auditory condition, however, the alpha-band power did not change relative to the resting condition. This study illustrates that the audiovisual perception of an opera performance engages the mirror neuron system in its audience. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:25:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31b32780ca274d17b7ae53944096a802 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:25:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-31b32780ca274d17b7ae53944096a8022023-11-21T15:00:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-01-011110.3389/fpsyg.2020.563031563031Mirror Neuron Activity During Audiovisual Appreciation of Opera PerformanceShoji TanakaOpera is a performing art in which music plays the leading role, and the acting of singers has a synergistic effect with the music. The mirror neuron system represents the neurophysiological mechanism underlying the coupling of perception and action. Mirror neuron activity is modulated by the appropriateness of actions and clarity of intentions, as well as emotional expression and aesthetic values. Therefore, it would be reasonable to assume that an opera performance induces mirror neuron activity in the audience so that the performer effectively shares an embodied performance with the audience. However, it is uncertain which aspect of opera performance induces mirror neuron activity. It is hypothesized that although auditory stimuli could induce mirror neuron activity, audiovisual perception of stage performance is the primary inducer of mirror neuron activity. To test this hypothesis, this study sought to correlate opera performance with brain activity as measured by electroencephalography (EEG) in singers while watching an opera performance with sounds or while listening to an aria without visual stimulus. We detected mirror neuron activity by observing that the EEG power in the alpha frequency band (8–13 Hz) was selectively decreased in the frontal-central-parietal area when watching an opera performance. In the auditory condition, however, the alpha-band power did not change relative to the resting condition. This study illustrates that the audiovisual perception of an opera performance engages the mirror neuron system in its audience.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563031/fullactionalphaariaEEGemotiongamma |
| spellingShingle | Shoji Tanaka Mirror Neuron Activity During Audiovisual Appreciation of Opera Performance Frontiers in Psychology action alpha aria EEG emotion gamma |
| title | Mirror Neuron Activity During Audiovisual Appreciation of Opera Performance |
| title_full | Mirror Neuron Activity During Audiovisual Appreciation of Opera Performance |
| title_fullStr | Mirror Neuron Activity During Audiovisual Appreciation of Opera Performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mirror Neuron Activity During Audiovisual Appreciation of Opera Performance |
| title_short | Mirror Neuron Activity During Audiovisual Appreciation of Opera Performance |
| title_sort | mirror neuron activity during audiovisual appreciation of opera performance |
| topic | action alpha aria EEG emotion gamma |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563031/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shojitanaka mirrorneuronactivityduringaudiovisualappreciationofoperaperformance |