The common experience of eyes watering or tearing up while singing is known as lacrimation. This complex physiological phenomenon extends beyond simple emotional response. Lacrimation involves the lacrimal glands releasing fluid onto the eye surface, which then drains through the tear ducts near the nose. This involuntary reflex results from the intense physical and neurological demands placed on the body during vocal performance.
Mechanical Pressure and Facial Tension
The physical effort required for proper singing technique can create an increase in pressure within the head and sinus cavities, which directly affects the tear-producing glands. Sustained vocalization demands deep diaphragmatic breathing and forced exhalation to maintain airflow and sound quality. This forced air movement raises intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressure, which can translate upward into the facial structure.
The main lacrimal glands, which produce the majority of tears, are situated just above the outer corner of each eye. When a singer engages the necessary facial muscles—including those around the eyes, jaw, and throat—tension is created. This muscle contraction and the internal pressure from breath control can exert a slight mechanical compression on these glands.
This pressure physically squeezes the lacrimal glands, causing them to release a burst of reflexive tears. Furthermore, the action of singing can sometimes disrupt the normal drainage rate of tears into the nasolacrimal duct, the small tube that carries tears from the eye to the nasal cavity. When production temporarily outpaces drainage, the overflow appears as the eyes watering or tearing up.
The Vagal Nerve and Autonomic Response
Beyond mechanical compression, a profound neurological connection exists between the act of singing and involuntary bodily functions, mediated by the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The ANS controls functions outside of conscious thought, such as heart rate, digestion, and tear production.
The Vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X) is the longest cranial nerve and a primary component of the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). It connects the brainstem to almost all major organs, including the larynx, pharynx, heart, and diaphragm. Singing, particularly the deep, controlled abdominal breathing it requires, directly stimulates the Vagus nerve by rhythmically engaging the diaphragm.
When the Vagus nerve is stimulated by this deep breathing, it activates the PNS, prompting a cascade of involuntary responses. While tear release is governed by the Facial Nerve (CN VII), Vagal nerve activation initiates the overall shift toward a “rest-and-digest” state that includes increased secretion from glands. This physiological regulation induced by deep vocal breathing can reflexively signal the body to increase tear production, independent of emotional feeling.
Emotional and Psychological Triggers
While physical mechanisms offer a non-emotional explanation, the psychological depth of singing is an undeniable trigger for lacrimation. Music has a direct and powerful route to the brain’s limbic system, the area responsible for emotion, memory, and motivation. Singing a song can activate the hippocampus and amygdala, causing the performer to relive memories or feelings associated with the lyrics or melody.
This intense emotional engagement—whether joy, sadness, nostalgia, or performance anxiety—can lead to the production of emotional tears. Emotional tears are chemically distinct from reflexive tears produced by irritation or compression. They contain higher concentrations of stress hormones, such as prolactin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), released during periods of high emotional arousal.
The act of expressing these deeply held feelings through the voice creates a unique emotional release. Singing acts as a form of catharsis, intensifying feelings to a point where the emotional response physically manifests as tearing up. Therefore, the tears may be a complex combination of physical reflexes caused by vocal mechanics and genuine emotional processing triggered by the music itself.