Music Dynamics Laboratory

At the Music Dynamics Laboratory our work seeks to discover the general principles of dynamics at the forefront of music perception and cognition.  Music is a high-level cognitive ability - a form of communication relying on highly structured temporal sequences similar in complexity to language. Music is found among all human cultures, and musical ‘languages’ vary across cultures with exposure and learning. Unlike language, however, music can often be universally understood via its self-contained patterns of sound within all musical cultures. These patterns intrinsic to music such as pitch, rhythm, tonality, and resonance all provide us with insights into neural processes. We investigate the neural facets of these patterns in music and our perception of them, as well as the emotional and interpersonal experiences that they afford.

Our research also explores the fundamental functions of hearing, communication, and auditory system development at large. We aim to identify human and environmental constraints that shape musical communication and learning and reveal the potentially crucial applications to aid in language learning. Research in our lab provides insights into an array of hearing and communication disorders and explores approaches to improve the design of neural prostheses which will have the potential to enhance our perception of music and sound in cochlear implant patients.