Music Cognition Lab

Silas LaCagnin gazes at his mother, Ansley LaCagnin, while she sings to him.
November 3, 2022

Study finds sensitivity to musical rhythm supports social development in infants

A new study shows engaging infants with a song provides a ready-made means for supporting social development and interaction.

Thanks to the treatment she received at VUMC, Meredith Watson is able to pursue a career as a ‘professional nose.’
January 13, 2022

Treatment sharpens sense of smell for ‘professional nose’

Surgery at Vanderbilt helped 25-year-old Meredith Watson pursue her dream of becoming a professional nose — someone specially trained in combining ingredients to create fragrances.

September 6, 2021

Medical diagnoses in musicians

Vanderbilt researchers mined electronic health records to find medical diagnoses that are more or less prevalent among musicians, who are present in large numbers in “Music City.”

June 23, 2021

Virtual study of stress in parents of children with developmental disabilities seeks participants

Otolaryngology researchers from the Music Cognition Lab are seeking to recruit parents of children with developmental disabilities for a study about the connection between mindfulness, music and stress levels. 

August 13, 2020

ACM gift aims to improve lives of children with autism spectrum disorder

ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, has made a generous gift to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for programs and research demonstrating the healing power of music to improve the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder.