We are using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze the brain areas and neural pathways that regulate vocalization. We have characterized a part of the human motor cortex that controls laryngeal function, and have shown this to be the major vocal centre of the human brain, for both speaking and singing. We are especially interesting in the role of the premotor component of this area in mediating the “inner voice” and how this relates to human cognition and consciousness. Our collaborators include Michel Belyk (Edge Hill University, UK).

2. Comparative musicology: Classification, universals, and cultural evolution of music

A principal objective of the lab is the revival of comparative musicology studies, in the spirit of both the Berlin School of the early 20th century and the Cantometrics project of the 1960´s. We have developed new computational methods for analyzing the “scaledness” and rhythmicality of human communication sounds, and have examined how these parameters vary across diverse forms of speech and music throughout world cultures.

3. Biological foundations of dance

A major interest of the lab is the neural basis of dance movement, including a focus on the human capacity to synchronize movements to one another. Work from the lab has examined brain areas involved in dance movement, as well as neural correlates of leading and following in contact-based couple dancing. In addition, we are attempting to generate a classification of world dance styles, following in the footsteps of seminal work on “choreometrics” by Lomax and his colleagues. This includes an interest in narrative dance as a form of acting and storytelling.

4. Role playing in theatre and everyday life

In the dramatic arts, actors take on the role of the characters they play. A large literature on "perspective taking" and "theory-of-mind" in psychology has failed to examine this process of impersonation. We are studying role playing in actors and non-actors using functional MRI with the intent of shedding light on brain areas whose activity changes when people portray another person, whether fictional or real. Our collaborators on this project are Alexandru Berceanu (University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest, Romania) and Nisha Sajnani (New York University).

5. The cognitive and neural basis of creativity

Perhaps the most integrative topic of research in the lab is the search for the cognitive and neural mechanisms of creativity. Given the broad interdisciplinary nature of the lab's research, we are approaching creativity in a multi-arts fashion, with the aim of looking at both domain-general and domain-specific aspects of creativity in the brain.

6. Other areas of interest

Other areas of interest include the creativity/aesthetics interface, the neural basis of drawing and writing, the biological basis of religion, cinema and the brain, and the narrative nature of conversation.