There are many exciting research projects at the intersection of music, neuroscience, and health and human development. The projects on this page are current National Endowment for the Arts Research Labs, NEA research grant projects, or National Institutes of Health “Sound Health” grant projects.
Additional projects are forthcoming.
Click here to view past projects.
Displaying 53 results Download Listed Projects (CSV)
Robert Bilder
NEA Research Lab
The UCLA Arts Impact Measurement System
University of California, Los Angeles
Borna Bonakdarpour
NEA Research Grant
Effectiveness of Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music on Anxiety in Individuals with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease
Northwestern University
Joke Bradt, Girija Kaimal
NEA Research Lab
Arts Research on Chronic Stress Lab (ARCS)
Drexel University
Eleanor Brown
NEA Research Lab
Research on Equity via the Arts in Childhood (REACH)
West Chester University
Jennifer Bugos
NEA Research Lab
Cognition and Coordination Across the Lifespan in Music (CALM)
University of South Florida
John Carpente
NEA Research Grant
Improving Neurological Functioning in Autistic Children through Music
Molloy College
Linda Chao
NIH R34
Feasibility of Tele-Singing at Home for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Decline
Northern California Institute for Research and Education
Michael Cleveland
NIH R61
Developing a Music Listening mHealth Intervention for Stress Reduction in Early Recovery
Washington State University
Philip Corlett
NIH R61
Songmaking in a group (SING): Music; Hallucinations and Predictive Coding
Yale University
Elizabeth Corwin, Joanne Loewy
NIH R01
The impact of a culturally-based live music intervention on the metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with chronic stress and the risk of preterm birth in Black women
Columbia University
Jennifer Dorris
NEA Research Grant
Project Unmute: The feasibility, acceptability, and potential effects of an intergenerational music program delivered by adolescents to older adults with declining cognition
University of Pittsburgh
Gammon Earhart
NIH R61
Sing for Your Saunter: Using Self-Generated Rhythmic Cues to Enhance Gait in Parkinson's
Washington University
Gary Elkins
NEA Research Grant
Effect of Music and Suggestion for Chronic Pain in Aging Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study
Baylor University
Carmina Erdei
NIH R01
The Impact of Music Medicine on Preterm Brain Development and Behavior
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lisa Gallagher
NEA Research Grant
A Randomized Controlled Trial Utilizing the Arts to Improve Health, Resilience, and Well-Being in Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions in Underserved Neighborhoods
Cleveland Clinic
Kamile Geist
NEA Research Grant
The Impact of Learning Music-Based Strategies on Caregiver Stress Levels and Caregiver/Infant Social-Emotional Competence: Demonstrating Feasibility Among At-Risk Families in Rural Appalachia
Ohio University Main Campus
Thalia Goldstein, Adam Winsler, Kim Sheridan
NEA Research Lab
Mason Arts Research Center
George Mason University
Thalia Goldstein, Dasean Young
NEA Research Grant
The Longitudinal Positive Effects Of Marching Band Participation On University Students From Different Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds
George Mason University
Raymond Goldsworthy
NIH R01
Music Appreciation after Cochlear Implantation
University of Southern California
Assal Habibi
NIH R21
Music Training; Bilingualism and Executive Functioning
University of Southern California
Assal Habibi
NIH R61/R33
Effects of Music Training on Neurodevelopment and Associated Health Outcomes
University of Southern California
Assal Habibi
NEA Research Lab
Music-Based Interventions to Enhance Interpersonal Synchrony for the Caregiver-Care Recipient Relationship in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
University of Southern California
Steven Holochwost
NEA Research Grant
Tuning the Heartstrings: Music Education, Persistence, and the Parasympathetic Nervous System
Play On Philly
John Iversen
NIH R01
Large-scale nested studies of the impact of music on brain and behavioral development
University of California, San Diego
John Iversen, Tim Brown
NEA Research Lab
Early Academic Readiness and Learning Intervention (EARLI)
University of California, San Diego
Susanne Jaeggi
NIH R61
Following the Sound of Music-Comparing the Effects of Music vs. Non-Music Based Interentions on Auditory and Cognitive Processing in Older Adults
University of california, Irvine
Petr Janata
NIH R21
The Role of Involuntary Repetitive Music Imagery in Memory Consolidation
University of California, Davis
Julene K Johnson
NIH R61/R33
Impact of Music Improvisation Training on Brain Function and Cognition among Older Adults
University of California, San Francisco
Grant Jones
NEA Research Grant
healing attempt: a digital music-based mindfulness intervention for Black Americans with elevated race-based anxiety
Harvard University
Mimi Kao, Aniruddh Patel
NIH R01
Investigating Auditory-Motor Interactions During Rhythm Perception in a Small Animal Model
Tufts University
Lauren Kelly
NEA Research Grant
Examining How Youth Design and Enact their Social, Educational, and Civic Futures through Arts, Activism, and Popular Culture
Rutgers University
Babar Khan, Linda Chlan
NIH R01
Decreasing Delirium through Music (DDM) in critically ill older adults
Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
Jacquelyn Kulinski
NIH R61
Evaluating the Impact of Singing Interventions on Markers of Cardivascular Health in Older Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
Medical College of Wisconsin
Yune Lee
NIH R21
Investigating the neural mechanisms underlying language recovery through rhythm therapy in aphasia
University of Texas, Dallas
Miriam Lense
NEA Research Lab
Music Interventions for Children and Families: Social-Emotional Development and Well-Being
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Miriam Lense
NIH R61
Musical Rhythm Sensitivity to Scaffold Social Engagement in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Charles Limb, Karen Barrett
NEA Research Lab
Neural Substrates of Improvisation Across Different Artistic Domains
University of California, San Francisco
Joanne Loewy
NEA Research Lab
AMEND: Assessment of Music Experiences in Navigating Depression
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Psyche Loui
NIH R21
Multimodal Musical Stimulation for Healthy Neurocognitive Aging
Northeastern University
Anne Luebke
NIH R21
Effects of Music Training on Auditory Processing and High-Frequency Hearing Abilities in Adolescent Musicians
University of Rochester
Laura Malinin
NEA Research Grant
C Sharp B Sharp: Evaluating arts enrichment programming for people with dementia and their caregivers
Colorado State University
Pablo Ripolles
NIH R34
Feasibility of a music listening intervention for mental health recovery in chronic stroke
New York University
Sheri Robb
NIH R01
Biologic Mechanisms and Dosing of Active Music Engagement to Manage Acute Treatment Distress and Improve Health Outcomes in Young Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
Erika Skoe
NIH R01
The Noisy Life of the Musician: Implications for Healthy Brain Aging
University of Connecticut
Jessica Smokoksi
NEA Research Grant
Evaluating the effects of music education programming in low-income communities: A longitudinal randomized control study assessing executive function and social emotional development
Duke University
Jill Sonke
NEA Research Lab
EpiArts Lab at the University of Florida
University of Florida, Gainesville
Elizabeth Stegemoller
NEA Research Grant
Exploring the mechanisms of group singing in persons with Parkinson’s disease
Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Sonya Wang
NIH R61
Effects of Music Based Intervention (MBI) on Neurodevelopment and pain Response in Preterm Infants
University of Minnesota
Jeffrey Wolfe
NEA Research Grant
Musical Bridges to Memory™: A music intervention for persons with dementia and familial caregivers
Institute for Therapy Through the Arts
Tian Zhao
NIH R21
Effect of Music Intervention on Infants' Brainstem Encoding of Speech
University of Washington
