MUSIC IN THE BRAIN LAUNCH

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1 Happy new year! This is the first edition of the Music in the Brain newsletter, your official source of news from the Music, Cognition and Action group at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development. The goal of the Music in the Brain Initiative is to foster greater interaction between music practitioners, music lovers, and music researchers in the Sydney area. The Music in the Brain Initiative is organised by Psychologists and Neuroscientists from the MARCS Institute at Western Sydney University that all share an interest in the science of music. Comprising a multi-disciplinary team, these music scientists investigate a diverse range of phenomena, such as ensemble performance, creativity, musical memory, and rhythm perception. To learn more, please visit the home page of the Music, Cognition and Action research group. Find out more >> MUSIC IN THE BRAIN LAUNCH The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development took advantage of the September school holidays to launch the 'Music in the Brain' initiative at Western Sydney University's Milperra Campus. The event brought together musicians, psychologists, neuroscientists, and therapists from across the University to discuss exciting new developments in music and science.

2 The event covered a diverse range of topics including the brain mechanisms involved in ensemble performance, the science of improvisation, theories of rhythm, audience appreciation, and music therapy. Attendees were taken on a tour of the performance laboratories used by the researchers from MARCS. The tour included the motion tracking facilities that provide precise measurement of musicians' movement during performances (pictured right). Attendees were also shown the electroencephalography (EEG) equipment - specialised caps containing sensors that measure brain waves (pictured left). The EEG is used to understand the brain mechanisms engaged while playing in piano duos. Overall, the opening of the Music in the Brain Initiative generated a lot of interest amongst those attending. We would like to thank everyone for making such a successful event. And for those that could not be with us - don't worry - videos from the event will be made available in coming editions of the newsletter. RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT Ms Anita Paas is a PhD student under the supervision of Professor Peter Keller. Anita is interested in the brain

3 mechanisms involved when pianists play together in duos. Anita utilises electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive brain imaging technique that measures the electrical activity of the brain while people are engaged in tasks. Anita uses EEG to better understand how the brain functions while pianists play music together. Anita is currently looking for pianists to participate in a new study. Participation involves attending an afternoon or evening session for which you will be monetarily compensated. To find out more, please Anita at: A.Paas@westernsydney.edu.au OFF THE PRESS Music Cognition and Action Researcher, Dr Giacomo Novembre, has invented a digital musicbox, which he is using to increase our understanding of music and cognition or mental processes. "We are trying to understand what are the cognitive mechanisms that allow people to interact with one another and how to dynamically exchange information. Dr Novembre designed the musicbox to study joint musical performance in groups of people without any musical training, or those who may be unable to play an instrument.

4 "This device will allow us to study musical production and interaction in younger individuals, who haven't had the possibility of playing a musical instrument," Dr Giacomo explains in the video. "The device can also be used trying to treat or understand when perception-action breaks down in disease and may be used for rehabilitation and to help develop social bonds through joint music-making". Click the link (picture) to watch Dr Giacomo Novembre discuss his musicbox. WHO ARE WE? The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development is a interdisciplinary research group that combines methods from cognitive science, linguistics, engineering and neuroscience to investigate the psychological and neurophysiological basis of human communication. The Institute was established in 1999 and initially comprised two research groups, one dedicated to studying infant speech development, and another that examined musical psychology. The MARCS Institute grown over the last 16 years and now encompasses five research programs, one of which is the Music, Cognition and Action (MCA) group. Using behavioural and neurophysiological approaches, the MCA investigates the temporal dynamics associated with individual and group performance, perception, and creation of music. MCA researchers examine a range of issues related to the performance arts including; ensemble performance, creativity, musical memory and rhythm perception. The purpose of the Music in the Brain Initiative is to encourage greater interaction between practicing musicians and members of the MCA. The aim is to determine intersecting areas of interest between musicians and music psychologists.

5 Specifically, the dual goals of the initiative are to; 1) to identify areas of research that can inform practice of music and music pedagogy, and 2) to act as a forum for practicing musicians to provide expert advice into the direction of the research conducted by the MCA group.