Reyna Gordon

Patient Kai Chan works with Jess Knoble, MT-BC, at the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab.
July 31, 2025

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab is a space for learning for everyone involved 

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center are on their way to finding out what science has to say about why music is important for health.

By Evan Dorian
(iStock)
November 27, 2024

Vanderbilt scientists discover shared genetic foundations between musical rhythm and human language

The study revealed overlapping genetic underpinnings between rhythm-related skills and language-related traits, including dyslexia.

By Danny Bonvissuto
May 7, 2024

Reyna Gordon appointed to VICTR leadership role 

Gordon’s appointment will expand and enhance training activities offered by Edge for Scholars at Vanderbilt, primarily for early career faculty on National Institutes of Health career development awards.

(Adobestock)
March 26, 2024

Beethoven’s genes reveal low predisposition for beat synchronization

What the exceptional composer’s DNA tells us about genetics

By Craig Boerner
July 28, 2023

Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab hosts second annual open house

Have you ever wondered what science has to say about why music is important for health? You can find out at the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab’s second annual open house on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

By VUMC News and Communications
July 14, 2023

Study uses statistical and population-based methods to understand comorbidities of developmental language disorder

A recent Vanderbilt study is one of the first to use statistical and population-based methods to understand comorbidities associated with developmental language disorder at a population level.

By Danny Bonvissuto
July 12, 2023

Musical rhythms shown to improve language processing in children with Developmental Language Disorder

Musical rhythms can help children with speech and language processing difficulties in finding their voice by improving their capacity to repeat sentences they just heard, according to a study led by a Western Sydney University researcher and co-authored by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
By Craig Boerner
October 13, 2022

Research shows genetic link to moving to the beat of music

A genomic study of musicality conducted by Vanderbilt researchers identified 69 genetic variants associated with beat synchronization, meaning the ability to move in synchrony with the beat of music.
By Craig Boerner
June 16, 2022

Scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and 23andMe find genetic link to people’s ability to move to a musical beat

Vanderbilt researchers, in collaboration with 23andMe, have made a significant discovery about the biological underpinnings of musical rhythm.  
By Emily Stembridge
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.”
By Leigh MacMillan
October 2, 2018

Gordon receives $2.3 million NIH Director’s New Innovator Award

Reyna Gordon, PhD, assistant professor of Otolaryngology and director of the Music Cognition Lab in the Department of Otolaryngology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award of $2.3 million in total costs for her project, “Biomarkers of Rhythmic Communication: Integrating Foundational and Translational Approaches.”
By Matt Batcheldor
May 17, 2018

Music, Mind and Society program growing fast

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has designated the Program for Music, Mind and Society at Vanderbilt as a 2018 National Endowment for the Arts Research Lab for its focus on the arts, health and socio-emotional well-being in families of children with and without autism spectrum disorder.
By Matt Batcheldor
August 23, 2016

Science of Song symposium set for Sept. 12 at Vanderbilt

Blair School of Music will host a one-day symposium Sept. 12 called "The Science of Song."
By VUMC News and Communications