SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS
Lectures to Watch
Oxytocin’s pathway to the origins of speech and dance. CARTA Symposium (Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny)
Speech, dance, and the brain. Neurohumanities Network, Harvard University
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance production. The Franke Program in Science and the Humanities, Yale University
Dance, movement, and the brain. Dana Foundation
Testing a dance intervention to alleviate speech deficits in mental health disorders. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Nostos Conference
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INVITED LECTURES
Upcoming
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance, University of Florida
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance, Atlantic Center for the Arts
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance, McMaster University, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behavior
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance, University of Pennsylvania, Computational Neuroscience Initiative
2026
Dance for Parkinson’s, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Julliard School, United Nations General Assembly Healing Arts Week
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance, The Rockefeller University, Summer Neuroscience Program
2025
Arts for collective and community health, Summer for the City Festival, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Oxytocin’s pathway to the origins of speech and dance, CARTA Symposium
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance, The Rockefeller University Neuroscience Symposium
Speech, dance, and the brain, Neurohumanities Network, Harvard University
2024
Neurobiology of speech and dance, Pace University
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance production, Yale University, Franke Program in Science and the Humanities
The neuroscience of the arts and social connection, Art and Science of Social Connection Symposium, United Nations General Assembly (Healing Arts Week), NYU Steinhardt
Dance, movement, and the brain, Dana Foundation
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance production, Science and Art of Movement Festival, Virginia Tech
My experience as a mentor to the World Science Scholars, World Science Festival, John Jay College, CUNY
Neurobiology of human sensory-motor communication: From speech to dance, Gordon Research Conference, Neural Mechanisms of Acoustic Communication
Tapping into the neurobiology of speech and dance production, Dance and Dialogues, Dresden University of Technology
Hardwired for speech and dance, Center for Ballet and the Arts, New York University [Keynote]
2023
Art and the brain, Dana Foundation Neuroscience & Society Talk Series [Keynote]
Neurobiology of social communication: From speech to dance, City College of New York
Insights into the neurobiology of sensory-motor communication, Yale University
Dance-based interventions to alleviate speech deficits, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Nostos Conference
Dissecting the neurobiology of speech and dance in humans, World Science Festival / Simons Foundation
Hardwired for song and dance: The neurobiology of language and movement, The Rockefeller University Council and Committee on Trust and Estate Gift Plans Lecture
Insights into the neurobiology of sensory-motor communication, Dance Science Symposium, University of Massachusetts Amherst [Keynote]
2022
Neurobiology of social communication: From speech to dance, Allen Institute Showcase Symposium
The oxytocin-vasotocin system: From speech to nomenclature, Clinical Scholars Lecture, The Rockefeller University
Human self-domestication and speech evolution through the lens of the oxytocin and vasotocin gene family, Cultural Evolution Society Meeting, Aarhus University
Champions under 40: Paving the way forward, Regional Growth Conference, University of Patras
The role of oxytocin in language, Ioannina Science Festival [Keynote]
2021
Genomic evolution of the oxytocin–vasotocin system and its implication in socially motivated behaviors, Harvard Medical School
Finishing your PhD, Yale School of Medicine / Yale Ciencia Academy [Keynote]
Universal nomenclature for oxytocin–vasotocin ligands and receptors, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
Eudaemonia: Interdisciplinary, TEDxAUTH
From social motivation of vocal learning to domestication: Insights from the oxytocin–vasotocin system, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Neurobiology of vocal learning, Barnard College, Columbia University
2020
Comparative genomics reveal the evolutionary history of oxytocin and vasotocin ligands and receptors, University of Toledo (USA)
2019
A universal vertebrate gene nomenclature: A case study of the oxytocin/vasotocin ligand and receptor family, Vertebrate Genomes Project / Earth BioGenome Project Meeting, The Rockefeller University
2018
¿Somos los humanos auto-domesticados?, BCNspiracy, CosmoCaixa, Barcelona [Keynote]
2017
The role of oxytocin in language, Marie Curie Alumni Association Conference and General Assembly, Salamanca
2016
Self-domestication of Homo sapiens and the case of oxytocin, Duke University
CONFERENCE LECTURES
2023
Theofanopoulou, C., Elgart, S., Kuznicki, M., & Jarvis, E. D. Dissecting the relationship between speech and dance in humans: From brain pathways to clinical therapy. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, USA
2022
Theofanopoulou, C. How to identify true gene orthologs across species. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists, CA, USA
2021
Theofanopoulou, C. Universal nomenclature for oxytocin-vasotocin ligands and receptors. Kavli Neural Systems Institute Mini-Symposium Series, New York, NY, USA
2018
Theofanopoulou, C., Lipkind, D., Tchernichovski, O., Boeckx, C., & Jarvis, E. D. The effect of social reward in vocal learning: Testing an oxytocin-dependent mechanism. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Nanosymposium, San Diego, CA, USA
Theofanopoulou, C. The evolutionary history of oxytocin and vasopressin ligands and receptors and their role in vocal learning. Workshop on the Neuroregulatory Actions and Clinical Applications of Oxytocin, Sicily, Italy
Theofanopoulou, C. Are we humans self-domesticated? University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [Award Winner]
Theofanopoulou, C. Convergences in (self-)domesticated species. Self-domestication and Language Evolution Workshop, Evolang XII, Toruń, Poland [Award Winner]
2017
Theofanopoulou, C. Reward mechanisms of vocal learning: Does oxytocin excite language? Protolang5 Minisymposium, Barcelona, Spain
Theofanopoulou, C., O’Rourke, T., Gastaldon, S., et al. Paleogenomic evidence for self-domestication in Homo sapiens. European Human Behavior and Evolution Association Meeting, Paris, France [Award Winner]
Theofanopoulou, C., Gedman, G., Boeckx, C., & Jarvis, E. D. The oxytocin receptor and the vasopressin/vasotocin receptor 1A appear to be paralogous sister genes explaining their common functions. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Nanosymposium, Washington, DC, USA
Theofanopoulou, C. The role of oxytocin in language. Barcelona Science Slam, Barcelona, Spain [Winner Lecture]
2016
Theofanopoulou, C. The endocrinome of social communication. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Nanosymposium, San Diego, CA, USA
Theofanopoulou, C. Implications of oxytocin in language. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, NY, USA
Theofanopoulou, C. Why oxytocin might affect rhythmicity. EVOLANG 11, Rhyth-Development, Evolution and Cognition Workshop, New Orleans, LA, USA
2015
Theofanopoulou, C. Rhythms in the Alzheimer’s disease brain: A treatable endophenotype? IV Clinical Linguistics International Congress, Barcelona, Spain
Theofanopoulou, C., & Boeckx, C. Can adequate cognitive phylogenies be constructed? Protolang 4, Rome, Italy
2014
Theofanopoulou, C. Greek light verbs. 35th Meeting of the Linguistics Department, Thessaloniki, Greece
POSTERS
2026
Anderson, K. L., Oishee, T., Doolittle, V., Theofanopoulou, C.+, & Whitney, O+. Oxytocin receptor antagonism alters context-sensitive song and social brain network activity. Gordon Research Conference, Neural Mechanisms of Acoustic Communication, Newry, MA, USA
Prates, R. A., Guzzo Júnior, C. C. E., Duarte, M. V. A., Muñoz Sánchez, A., Pauli, P., Martinez, F. G., Passos-Monteiro, E., García, A. M., Haas, A. N., & Theofanopoulou, C. From dance to speech: Amazonian dance improves speech features of people with Parkinson’s disease. 37th Global Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International, Lyon, France
Prates, R. A., Guzzo Júnior, C. C. E., Duarte, M. V. A., Muñoz Sánchez, A., Pauli, P., Martinez, F. G., Passos-Monteiro, E., García, A. M., Haas, A. N., & Theofanopoulou, C. Culturally resonant Amazonian dance and speech performance in Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled trial. Brain Congress on Behavior and Emotions, Porto Alegre, Brazil
2025
Sunderlage, A., Lima Carmona, Y. E., Das, D., Gale, C., Theofanopoulou+, C., & Contreras-Vidal+, J. L. Shared neural substrates during Butoh meditative dance. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA
Vouzina, O., Theofanopoulou+, C., & Manousaki+, T. Tracing dopamine receptor evolution: Phylogenetic insights and a new synteny metric. Mathematical and Statistical Aspects of Molecular Biology Annual Meeting, London, UK
2024
Lima Carmona, Y. E., Theofanopoulou+, C., & Contreras-Vidal+, J. L. Unveiling brain activity during dancing: Insights from mobile EEG hyperscanning of professional Butoh dancers. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, USA
2019
Theofanopoulou, C., Gedman, G., Cahill, J. A., Boeckx, C., & Jarvis, E. D. A universal evolution-based nomenclature for the oxytocin and vasotocin ligand and receptor families. 13th World Congress on Neurohypophysial Hormones, Ein Gedi, Israel [Award Winner]
Theofanopoulou, C., Gedman, G., Cahill, J. A., Boeckx, C., & Jarvis, E. D. A universal evolution-based nomenclature for the oxytocin and vasotocin ligand and receptor families. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, USA [International Fellows Poster Session; IBRO Award]
2018
Theofanopoulou, C., Lipkind, D., Tchernichovski, O., Boeckx, C., & Jarvis, E. D. The effect of social reward in vocal learning: Testing an oxytocin-dependent mechanism. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA [Trainee Professional Development Award Poster Session]
2017
Theofanopoulou, C., Gedman, G., Boeckx, C., & Jarvis, E. D. A proposed universal nomenclature for the oxytocin and vasotocin ligand and receptor families. 18th International Congress of Comparative Endocrinology, Lake Louise, AB, Canada [Award Winner]
Theofanopoulou, C., Gedman, G., Boeckx, C., & Jarvis, E. D. A proposed universal nomenclature for the oxytocin and vasotocin ligand and receptor families. Human Genome Meeting, Barcelona, Spain
2016
Theofanopoulou, C. How social-reward hormones modulate language learning. Beyond Language Learning Workshop, Barcelona, Spain
Theofanopoulou, C., & Boeckx, C. Oxytocin pathways, language-related genes, and the emergence of modern cognition. 10th FENS Forum of Neuroscience, Copenhagen, Denmark
Theofanopoulou, C., & Boeckx, C. Sapiens-specific genetic changes affecting oxytocin pathways. European Conference of Human Genetics, Barcelona, Spain
Theofanopoulou, C. A framework for studying self-domestication. 8th Dubrovnik Conference on Cognitive Science, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Theofanopoulou, C., Alamri, S., & Boeckx, C. A brain symphony for natural language syntax. Nijmegen Lectures, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
2015
Theofanopoulou, C., Zhang, E. Q., Alamri, S., Castillo, G., Shi, E. R., Martins, P. T., Martinez Ferreiro, S., & Boeckx, C. Subcortical structures and language disruption. Science of Aphasia Conference, Aveiro, Portugal
Theofanopoulou, C. What cognitive phylogenies got wrong. Tokyo Lectures in Language Evolution, Tokyo, Japan
Theofanopoulou, C. A cognitive approach to light verb constructions. Formal Semantics Meets Cognitive Semantics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands