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.
David Bashwiner
NEA Research Grant
Musical Creativity, Brain Structure, and Education
University of New Mexico Main Campus
Robert Bilder
NEA Research Lab
The UCLA Arts Impact Measurement System
University of California, Los Angeles
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
John Carpente
NEA Research Grant
Improving Neurological Functioning in Autistic Children through Music
Molloy College
Philip Corlett
NIH R61
Songmaking in a group (SING): Music; Hallucinations and Predictive Coding
Yale University
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
Beth Fisher
NEA Research Grant
The Relation Between Bimanual Coordination and Interhemispheric Communication in Musicians
University of Southern California
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
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
NEA Research Grant
A Neurodevelopmental Investigation of How Music Education Can Benefit Executive Function and Emotion Regulation in Adolescents
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
Petr Janata
NIH R21
The Role of Involuntary Repetitive Music Imagery in Memory Consolidation
University of California, Davis
Mimi Kao
NIH R21
Developing an animal Model to study Auditory-Motor Interactions During Rhythm Perception
Tufts 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
Julia Langley, Jagmeet Kanwal
NEA Research Grant
Recovery in the ICU: An Investigation of Music-induced Physiologic and Metabolic Changes that Promote Healing
Georgetown University
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
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
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
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
David Stringham
NEA Research Grant
Stories and Songs of Incarceration, Equity, Justice, and Community: Impact of an Interdisciplinary, Arts-Based Project on Formerly Incarcerated Persons, Pre-Service Students, and Community Members
James Madison University
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
