How I got interested in the vagus nerve and its relation to singing

Before reading this post, I recommend that you read the page "Introduction and Exercises".

Some years ago, researching on the digestive system because I suffered from reflux, I started realising the importance of the vagus nerve in the proper functioning of the body. And I also realised that several nerves related to singing are in fact branches of the vagus nerve, notably the recurrent nerve, about which singers normally hear about, as it is mentioned in most books on singing.

I then did a research on the internet with the key words "voice" and "vagus nerve" and came upon articles mentioning the strange effects on the voice produced by Vagal Nerve Stimulation, a form of therapy for conditions such as epilepsy, depression and migraine, where a device is implanted at the base of the neck, on the left side, and linked to the vagus nerve in the neck. Patients activate the device several times during the day.

It made me think about the fluctuations we all experience in singing. One day the voice is "there", the next day, even with thorough practice, singing will not be as easy, and so on. Researching further, I started realising how much voice production depends on the state of our nervous system. A balanced autonomic nervous system, when sympathetic and parasympathetic activities go hand in hand, means free voice production.

On the contrary, when we are stressed, i.e. the sympathetic nervous system has the upper hand, voice production is impaired, with thicker saliva and mucous, a tight throat, shallow breathing, etc. I also started to understand that the aim of relaxation practices, even if the fact is mostly ignored, is to balance the autonomic nervous system. That explains why a good yoga class can make you sing better, even if you have not been practicing singing. It also sheds a light on "natural voices", why some people, who sometimes have had no contact with belcanto singing in their youth, discover a beautiful operatic voice as adults: these people are probably gifted with a balanced autonomic nervous system and the function of their vagus nerve is optimal.

I started to research exercises which could stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and could be used before or, for some of them, during singing practice, or in the course of the day to keep up a relaxed state, allowing singing to become a "natural" activity, i.e. simply "open your mouth and sing". This is what I am sharing here on this blog.