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Webinar: The intersection between neuroscience and music

28 October 2020 | Story Nitha Ramnath

Lunchtime learning webinar series on Interdisciplinarity in Action

Mastering a musical instrument, such as the piano, requires the simultaneous integration of a multimodal, sensory system and motor information with multimodal, sensory feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the performance. Performing intricate movements requires complex, sensory-motor programming of finger and hand movements, which can result in a reorganisation of the brain regarding functional and structural changes of existing and the establishment of new connections. Neuronal networks involved in music processing are adaptable and fast-changing. When motor skills are simplified to the most important action, it consists of nerve impulses sent to the muscles.

In this webinar, Dr Frelét de Villiers discusses the interdisciplinarity between the two fields of music and neuroscience. Promising preliminary data has been reported for applications of transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) of the motor cortex, ranging from stroke rehabilitation to cognitive enhancement. These findings raise the alternative possibility that the fine motor control of pianists may be improved by stimulating the contralateral motor cortex.

In our interdisciplinary study, we want to use the Halo Sport neurostimulation system (a physical training aid). This is a tDCS device, designed to optimise the efficiency of training sessions and accelerate gains in any physical skill, especially when the neurostimulation is complemented by focused repetitive training. The main questions of the study are the following: do pianists experience a noticeable difference in mastering repertoire with and without the HALO Sport device, and can functional and structural changes in the brain be observed after using the Halo Sport consistently over six months? Data collection will consist of EEG tests, fMRI scans, interviews, and analysis of performances by an expert panel. The value of the research is the possibility that practising with the HALO may improve the performance of the students and that changes in the brain may be observed. Interdisciplinary engagement is essential to conduct this research. If it is possible to establish that there are functional and structural changes in the brain and improvement in the performance of the pianists, the research can be extended to other disciplines with hopefully the same positive results.

This webinar is part of a series of three webinars on Interdisciplinarity that will be presented from November to December 2020 via Microsoft Teams for a duration of 45 minutes each. The webinar topics in the series will explore the intersection between Neuroscience and Music, between Science and Entrepreneurship, and between Science and Visual Arts.

Date: Thursday 5 November 2020

Topic: The intersection between neuroscience and music

Time: 13:00-13:45

RSVP: Alicia Pienaar, pienaaran1@ufs.ac.za by 4 November 2020 at 12:00

Platform: Microsoft Teams

Introduction and welcome

Prof Corli Witthuhn – Vice-Rector: Research at the University of the Free State

Presenter

Dr Frelét de Villiers

Dr de Villiers is a Senior Lecturer at the Odeion School of Music. She is head of the Methodology modules, short learning programmes, lectures in piano, music pedagogy, arts management, and is a supervisor for postgraduate students. She is a member of the Faculty of the Humanities Research Committee, Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures, Scientific Committee (Arts), and the Ethics Committee (the Humanities). Her field of expertise is piano technique, with particular emphasis on the influence of the brain and the whole-brain approach to music. Her passion is the use of technology in the music teaching situation – she developed a note-learning app, PianoBoost (available on Google Play).

News Archive

Exciting open day and Albert Einstein program at Boyden Observatory

2005-05-06

National Science Week, which will be held from 7-14 May 2005, is an annual country-wide celebration of science, led by the Department of Science and Technology. The department selected a proposal by the Boyden Science Centre to coordinate a week of activities in the Bloemfontein area as one of the many projects in the country.

The project for Bloemfontein and surrounding areas will be delivered though a collaboration between the National Museum in Bloemfontein and the University of the Free State (UFS), including the Research Institute for Education Planning, the Department of Physics and other departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The purpose of National Science Week is:

to create awareness of the important role that science play in people’s daily lives;
to encourage our youth to consider studying and improving their performance in mathematics and science; and
to attract more of our youth into science, engineering and technology (SET) careers.

World Year of Physics and Albert Einstein Program at Boyden Observatory

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) declared the year 2005 as the World Year of Physics (WYP). In recognition of this declaration, the great contribution of Physics to the development of technology, and its importance in our everyday lives will be featured strongly during the National Science Week 2005.

On Saturday 7 May 2005 there will be a public programme at Boyden Observatory from 15:30 as a contribution to the World Year of Physics. The programme will be presented in collaboration with the Bloemfontein branch of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa and will include short presentations on astronomy, space exploration and the sun.

The main presentation will be at 19:00 the evening on the life and work of Albert Einstein. The programme will also include observing sessions through telescopes of objects like the sun, Jupiter and Saturn. There will also be an exhibit on Albert Einstein. Attendance is free but booking is required. For bookings, phone 051-4012561.

Public lecture programme:

Next week the following exciting public lectures will be presented as part of the Science Week activities:

Monday 9 May 2005

National Museum:

A discussion on Apocalypse Then: the greatest mass extinction of all time. The lecture will be presented by Dr Jennifer Botha, Paleontologist at the National Museum.
Bookings: 051-4479609 (entrance is free).

UFS campus:

All lectures at Kine 2, Medical Faculty, UFS campus. Follow directions from the DF Malherbe Road entrance.
Bookings: 051-4012561 (entrance is free).

Tuesday 10 May 2005:

A discussion on the Tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Wednesday 11 May 2005:

A discussion on Is there life out there? at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Friday 13 May 2005:

A discussion on Hunting Black Holes at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty). The lecture will be presented by Dr Phil Charles, Director: South African Astronomical Observatory.

Science awareness day at the National museum

The science week will be concluded on Saturday 14 May 2005 with a special Science Awareness Day at the National Museum, Aliwal Street, Bloemfontein.

The excellent exhibits at the museum will be supplemented with activities, career information and video shows. The duration of the programme will be from 10:00-16:00. For enquiries, please call 051-4479609.

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel: (051) 401-2584
   Cell: 083 645 2454
   E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

6 May 2005

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