CURRENT RESEARCH

Music-Induced Neural Plasticity in Auditory and Speech Processing Before Birth

We are investigating the efficacy of naturalistic music exposure before birth to enhance preterm auditory and speech processing when the auditory system is still being protected by the intrauterine walls. This research will initiate larger-scale studies to examine the long-term implications of prenatal music experience on language, cognitive and brain development. We will also open new lines of research and clinical practice using music as a preventative tool for fetuses at familial risk of dyslexia and other neurodevelopmental disorders associated with temporal auditory processing and beyond.

A Neural Entrainment Framework for Music Intervention in Developmental Dyslexia

Developmental dyslexia is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by poor phonological and literacy skills. While music has been found a potential interventional tool for DD, we are writing a systematic review detailing the underlying brain mechanisms of this intervention. We argue that most existing explanations for DD deficits can be unified within the neural entrainment framework, i.e., impaired alignment of the brain’s oscillating systems to the frequency of input stimulus.

The Effect of Music Exposure on Infant Brain and Auditory Development

Therapeutic music has the potential to meet the urgent medical and public health demands for safe, effective, and accessible interventions at the earliest possible stage of life. In this study, we are interested in investigating how therapeutic music can enhance infant auditory and brain development. We are actively recruiting pregnant mothers to participate in this study. Participants will be compensated.