Consequences From Emotional Stimulus on Breathing for Singing

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect from emotional stimulus on the correlation between intercostal (INT)/abdominal (rectus abdominis [RC], lateral abdomen [OBL], and lower lateral abdomen [LOBL]) muscle activity and trunk wall (upper thorax [UTX], lower thorax [LTX], and abdomen [ABD]) movement. An electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from the INT, RC, OBL, and LOBL sites. UTX, LTX, and ABD movement were traced with three strain gauge sensors. Recordings were compared between singing with emotional stimulus (ES) and without emotional stimulus (NES). Muscle activity was recorded by use of an ambulatory four-channel monitoring system (Physiometer PHY 400, Premed, Norway). Seven advanced student singers (three males and four females) participated as subjects. Four sample performances were performed: (1) extreme tones, (2) swell tones, (3) arpeggio, and (4) glissando. All sample performances were sung on the vowel /a:/. We conclude that classical singers change their breathing pattern when they vocalize using ES compared with using NES. The results imply that vocalizing using ES facilitates a more prominent role for LOBL activity in the positioning of the abdominal wall and thorax than observed when vocalizing using NES.