UTD Researcher Investigates How Music Education Affects Brain Development

Yune Lee, PhD

A cognitive neuroscientist from The University of Texas at Dallas School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) is working with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) to investigate the impact of music education on neurological development and academic performance in school-age children.

The students will undergo a yearlong assessment, which will include three EEG sessions; cognitive, language and music tasks; and socio-emotional questionnaires. An EEG measures electrical activity in the brain using small electrodes attached to the scalp. The neuroimaging will be performed using a portable device that requires about 30 minutes to collect data that will allow scientists to evaluate whether changes in the brain are connected to behavioral changes. “There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the positive effects of music on the human mind and body across all ages,” said Lee.