Research
Cognition and Coordination in Music Across the Lifespan (CALM)
The NEA Research Lab: Cognition and Coordination Across the Lifespan in Music (CALM) includes an array of research studies that evaluate the role of coordination in music interventions on cognition through the lens of human development. Specifically, these studies will differentiate the benefits of music programs, music training (by instrument), dosage necessary to see benefits, and how these relate to motor control.
The research agenda will address the following research questions:
- What are the effects of music training interventions on music achievement, bimanual coordination (activities are skills that use two hands to complete), executive functions (a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control), and attention across the lifespan?;
- What are the most effective neurocognitive transfer and technologies to measure those outcomes?;
- How much training is necessary to generate sustainable benefits?;
- How do learning-related outcomes vary by age, socioeconomic characteristics, other demographic/behavioral patterns, and by health/disability status?; and
- What are the benefits and related outcomes for specific music approaches to arts learning
in formal or informal settings?
- Would you be interested in learning more about participating in a research study?
Want to learn a new instrument or how to read music? Want to meet others who enjoy music? There are many opportunities to get involved in research.
Fill out the following form to learn more. - Volunteer opportunities are available to students from a wide variety of disciplines.
Students are trained on data collection, data entry, data checking, and statistical
analysis. They also learn various software applications for experimental data collection.
If you are student interested in gaining research experiences in a dynamic interdisciplinary lab, please complete the following form.