Tuesday Talk: The biological roots of musicality
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This edition of Tuesday Talk, we join Dr Spierings as she delves into her research on the biological roots of musicality and language by examining cognitive and vocal abilities across different species. Her research reveals which elements of music are shared, and which are uniquely human.
In deze editie van Tuesday Talk vertelt dr. Spierings over de biologische wortels van muzikaliteit en taal door de cognitieve en vocale vaardigheden van verschillende diersoorten te bestuderen. Haar onderzoek onthult welke elementen van muziek universeel zijn en welke uniek menselijk.
The Tuesday Talks are Leiden’s monthly dose of research inspiration, open to all curious minds. Every second Tuesday of the month, Leiden University hosts a one-hour lecture by a staff member. The speaker, Dr Michelle Spierings, Assistant Professor of the Institute for Biology at Leiden University, studies how animals perceive, produce, and learn complex sounds.
Dr Spierings’ research combines perspective…
In deze editie van Tuesday Talk vertelt dr. Spierings over de biologische wortels van muzikaliteit en taal door de cognitieve en vocale vaardigheden van verschillende diersoorten te bestuderen. Haar onderzoek onthult welke elementen van muziek universeel zijn en welke uniek menselijk.
The Tuesday Talks are Leiden’s monthly dose of research inspiration, open to all curious minds. Every second Tuesday of the month, Leiden University hosts a one-hour lecture by a staff member. The speaker, Dr Michelle Spierings, Assistant Professor of the Institute for Biology at Leiden University, studies how animals perceive, produce, and learn complex sounds.
Dr Spierings’ research combines perspectives from closely related primates with those from more distantly related yet vocally skilled species, such as songbirds and parrots. These cross-species comparisons help reveal how intricate musical abilities may have evolved from simpler biological foundations, offering new perspectives on the evolution of music and communication. Her work combines biology, cognition, and acoustics to improve our understanding of how complex communication systems evolve.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the intersection of biology, music and human behaviour. Join for an inspiring discussion and connect with fellow science enthusiasts over drinks afterwards!
When
- Tuesday the 12th of may 2026 from 16:00 to 17:00