The Precuneus Contributes to Embodied Scene Construction for Singing in an Opera

Abstract

Performing an opera requires singers on stage to process mental imagery and theory of mind tasks in conjunction with singing and action control. Although it is conceivable that the precuneus, as a posterior hub of the default mode network, plays an important role in opera performance, how the precuneus contributes to opera performance has not been elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to investigate the contribution of the precuneus to singing in an opera. Since the precuneus processes mental scenes, which are multimodal and integrative, we hypothesized that it is involved in opera performance by integrating multimodal information required for performing a character in an opera. We tested this hypothesis by analyzing the functional connectivity of the precuneus during imagined singing and rest. This study included 42 opera singers who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging when performing “imagined operatic singing” with their eyes closed. During imagined singing, the precuneus showed increased functional connectivity with brain regions related to language, mirror neuron, socio-cognitive/emotional, and reward processing. Our findings suggest that, with the aid of its widespread connectivity, the precuneus and its network allow embodiment and multimodal integration of mental scenes. This information processing is necessary for imagined singing as well as performing an opera. We propose a novel role of the precuneus in opera performance.

Dissociable roles of neural pattern reactivation and transformation during recognition of words read aloud and silently: An MVPA study of the production effect

“…It seems feasible that the precuneus might play a role here: in addition to its roles in recollection and metacognition, the precuneus is reportedly activated by a number of tasks involving mental simulation from a first-person perspective, such as mental imagery and imagined navigation (see Cavanna and Trimble, 2006 for review). More recently, Tanaka and Kirino (2021) report that during imagined singing, the precuneus exhibited heightened functional connectivity with perisylvian areas associated with speech production (inferior frontal and temporal gyri), as well as the middle and (medial) superior frontal gyri, which have both been linked to planning and cognitive control of speech output (Bourguignon, 2014;Hertrich et al, 2016Hertrich et al, , 2021. Takana and Kirino (2021) suggest that their results may reflect integration of language-related information during imagined singing.…”

Brain mechanisms discriminating enactive mental simulations of running and plogging

“…These patterns were observed in the occipital pole, parahippocampal gyrus, precuneus cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and the angular gyrus. One explanation is that the lower complexity of the action of running (as compared to plogging) might have sensitized the activation of some core processes of action simulation, such as visuo-spatial judgment for the angular gyrus (Sack et al, 2007(Sack et al, , 2009Singh-Curry & Husain, 2009;Seghier, 2013), topographical memory and mental navigation for the parahippocaampal gyrus (Berthox, 1997;Maguire et al, 1998;Mellet et al, 2000), coordination of spatial attention and vigilance for the posterior cingulate cortex (Leech & Sharp, 2014;Naito & Ehrsson, 2001;Rolls et al, 2019), the processing of complex visual scenes for the precuneus (Tanaka & Kirino, 2021), and vividness of mental imagery for the occipital pole (Andersson et al, 2019).…”

Right-Lateralized Enhancement of the Auditory Cortical Network During Imagined Music Performance

“…Previous studies have reported that the auditory cortical areas are activated during silent music reading ( Hoppe et al, 2014 ) and timbre imagery ( Halpern et al, 2004 ), as well as an inter-subject correlation of auditory cortical activity during melodic imagery ( Regev et al, 2021 ), suggesting that the auditory areas could play a role in imagined music performance. A recent study suggested that imagined singing of an aria constructed an “embodied scene” in the precuneus, the center for mental imagery processing, and its networks ( Tanaka and Kirino, 2021 ). Musical imagery studies have reported rightward asymmetry in activity ( Halpern et al, 2004 ; Regev et al, 2021 ) and connectivity between the precuneus and the auditory cortical areas ( Tanaka and Kirino, 2021 ).…”

“…A recent study suggested that imagined singing of an aria constructed an “embodied scene” in the precuneus, the center for mental imagery processing, and its networks ( Tanaka and Kirino, 2021 ). Musical imagery studies have reported rightward asymmetry in activity ( Halpern et al, 2004 ; Regev et al, 2021 ) and connectivity between the precuneus and the auditory cortical areas ( Tanaka and Kirino, 2021 ). To elucidate how the auditory cortical areas are involved in the processing of musical imagery, we analyzed the reconfiguration of their functional networks during imagined music performance.…”