Music and Neuroscience Lab

About Dr. Grahn

_I am a cognitive neuroscientist who studies music, appointed as an assistant professor in the Brain and Mind Institute and the Department of Psychology at Western University, in London, Ontario.  Until recently I was at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, England, and an Associate Lecturer in Biological Psychology with the Open University. (And a little tip: Grahn rhymes with "on", not "an").


Interested in Participating? 
If you are interested in participating in a research study, or learning more about current studies, please email grahnlabstudy@gmail.com.

Research Interests

    Why do we move to music? How is musical rhythm processed in the brain? How do brain responses to musical rhythm differ from similar types of movement and timing? How and why do other animals' brain responses to music differ from ours? Can musical rhythm have therapeutic benefit? (more information).

    Other areas in which I have expertise include the use of real-time fMRI scanning to examine if people can change their own brain activity (neurofeedback), effects of training on cognitive function (brain training, musical training), and how listening to different types of music affects memory.

     

Research Opportunities

    If you are interested in research opportunities in my lab, please get in touch.  
   
    Undergraduate students should send me a CV, transcript, a sample of writing, as well as a short description of why they are interested in this area of research and the time commitment they are able to make. Students may want to read about important traits I look for in both undergrads and grads. Post-docs may want to look at the Banting Fellowships, Marie Curie fellowships (Europeans), CIHR Fellowships, NSERC Fellowships, or various other lists of fellowships.

NEWS

November: Grahn Lab attends Parkinson Regional Conference

Li-Ann Leow, Cloris Xue, and Cricia Rinchon of the Grahn Lab attended the Parkinson Regional Conference at the Hilton London to recruit participants for research studies on Parkinson's Disease. Snapd London.

September: Postdoctoral position available

We have a postdoctoral fellow opening in our lab. Closing date September 30th (but late applications will be considered).
More details.

July: Dr. Grahn interviewed for "The New Brain"

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In The New Brain, Maclean’s best writers examine the most intriguing ideas about the body’s most complex organ. Dr. Grahn comments on the possible origins of the special musical abilities in humans, and how music and language may have evolved together. She also discusses the role of music in infancy. The New Brain is available online or at newstands now.

April: Dr. Grahn speaks at TEDxWestern

Does music make you smarter? Should babies listen to music to improve their brain development? The answers to these questions and more...
Watch the full talk here--currently over 20,000 views!
 A recent interview about Mozart effect.

March: Dr. Grahn speaks at TEDxWaterloo

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How do human responses to rhythm compare to other animals? What goes on in our brains when we're listening to music?

Watch the full talk here.

March: Working out to music (Scientific American)

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Let's Get Physical: The Psychology of Effective Workout Music
New research clarifies why music and exercise make such a good team, and how to create an optimal workout playlist. Dr. Grahn contributes.

By Ferris Jabr

Fun stuff I do sometimes...

 Jessica Grahn
 Brain and Mind Institute
 Department of Psychology
 Natural Sciences Building, 229
 Western University
 London, ON, CANADA