We aim at understanding how our brain responds to music, and how music can stimulate our brain.
We are interested in music-driven perception, movement, emotion, reward and memory processes.
How
Behavioral, Neuroimaging and Neurostimulation approaches in laboratory and ecological settings
Where
Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Pavia University, Italy
Team
We are a dynamic young group studying timely topics in the field of music cognition. We are based in one of the world’s most beautiful and ancient academic realities, Pavia University.
Principal Investigators
Laura Ferreri
Professor (Associate)
I am a cognitive neuroscientist and Associate Professor in the Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Pavia, where I teach the Psychology and Neuroscience of Music. I hold an M.Sc. in Cognitive Neuroscience (San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy) and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology (EBRAMUS Marie Curie ITN Program, Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, France). After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Barcelona and a teaching position at Université Lumière Lyon 2, I joined the University of Pavia to advance research in music science. My work focuses on the interplay between music, reward, and memory through behavioral, neuroimaging, and neuropharmacological approaches. I am passionate about sharing the neuroscience of music with wider audiences through dissemination events.
Carlotta Lega
Professor (Assistant)
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Pavia. My research focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of music, particularly investigating brain plasticity and auditory-motor integration mechanisms in the context of musical learning. Employing behavioral and neurostimulation techniques, I explore these processes to unlock the secrets of the brain’s musical abilities. My academic background includes a PhD in Linguistic, Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Milano-Bicocca, preceded by a Master’s in Psychology and a Piano Diploma at the Pavia Conservatory.
Research Team
Eleonora Fullone
PhD Student
I graduated in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Sciences at the University of Pavia and, after a year of postgraduate internship, I started a PhD course in Cognitive Brain Sciences at the School for Advanced Studies in Pavia. I also graduated in cello (at the Lecce Conservatory, Italy) and obtained a Master’s in Music Pedagogy (at the Lugano Conservatory, Switzerland), allowing me to have years of teaching experience. To combine the two fields of study, my current PhD research project is on Neuroscience of music specifically focused on rhythm and rhythmic abilities, memory, and musical hedonia in both musicians and non-musicians.
Giorgio Lazzari
PhD Student
After completing my studies in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology in the Life Span at the University of Milano-Bicocca, I began my PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Data Science at the University of Pavia. My current research focuses on rhythmic processes, specifically investigating beat perception and imagery using non-invasive neurostimulation techniques, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Additionally, I am exploring auditory-motor synchronization through finger tapping tasks, examining both social and clinical perspectives of rhythm production.
Federico Curzel
Postdoctoral Fellow
I am a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Brain and Behavior Department, University of Pavia, working with the Laboratory of Psychology of Aging (LabPsI) and the MusiCognition Lab. With a multidisciplinary background in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (M.Sc., University of Padova, Italy, 2018), Music Therapy (1 year, Istituto Musicale Città di Thiene, 2018), and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology (University Lumière Lyon 2, France, 2024), I specialized in exploring interactions between music, social sharing and the brain. My research, using behavioral approaches and neuroimaging techniques (fNIRS and hyperscanning), examines how music and social context modulate social behavior (prosociality), affective responses (reward|emotions), cognitive functions (e.g., memory), and interpersonal neural synchronization.
Lilya Abergel
PhD Student
After completing a Master’s degree in Cognitive Science (Cogmaster – ENS-PSL, Université Paris Cité, EHESS) in Paris, I am currently pursuing a PhD in collaboration with the MusiCognition Lab (University of Pavia) and the Institut Jean-Nicod (École Normale Supérieure, Paris). My research focuses on how music can modulate mental states, specifically exploring the mechanisms underlying music-driven absorption. I investigate how music can induce states of deep absorption, exploring both cases where it directs attention inward, as in the case of mind-wandering episodes while listening to music, or outward, in the form of sustained attention on an external object of consciousness.
Research
Scientific Papers
2024
Curzel, F., Tillmann, B., & Ferreri, L. (2024). Lights on music cognition: a systematic and critical review of fNIRS applications and future perspectives. Brain and Cognition, 180, 106200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106200
Lazzari, G., Sacheli, L. M., Benoit, C. E., Lega, C., & Van Vugt, F. T. (2024). Pleasantness makes a good time: musical consonance shapes interpersonal synchronization in dyadic joint action. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 18, 1472632. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1472632
Curzel, F., Tillmann, B., & Ferreri, L. (2024). Lights on music cognition: a systematic and critical review of fNIRS applications and future perspectives. Brain and Cognition, 180, 106200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106200
Ferreri, L., (2024) Musique, émotions et plaisir. Musique, sciences et santé. E. Bigand, G. Mick. Dunod Eds. [Book Chapter]
Curzel, F., Osiurak, F., Tran, E., Tillmann, B., Ripollés, P., Ferreri, L. (2024). Enhancing musical pleasure through shared musical experience. iScience, 27(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.109964
Ginzburg, J., Cheylus, A., Collard, E., Ferreri, L., Tillmann, B., Moulin, A., & Caclin, A. (2024). Role of the prefrontal cortex in musical and verbal short-term memory: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Imaging Neuroscience. 2, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1162/imag_a_00168
Lazzari, G., van de Vorst, R., van Vugt, F. T., & Lega, C. (2024). Subtle Patterns of Altered Responsiveness to Delayed Auditory Feedback during Finger Tapping in People Who Stutter. Brain Sciences, 14(5), 472. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14050472
Ferreri, L., Van Vugt, F., Bégel, V., Albouy, P., Lega, C., & Benoit, C. É. (2024). Future Directions in the Psychology of Music. Advances in Cognitive Psychology (Editorial), 19(4), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.5709/acp-0410-9
Massironi, A., Lazzari, G., La Rocca, S., Ronconi, L., Daini, R., & Lega, C. (2024). Transcranial magnetic stimulation on the right dorsal attention network modulates the center-surround profile of the attentional focus. Cerebral Cortex, 34(2), bhae015. 10.1093/cercor/bhae015
Guiotto Nai Fovino, L., Zanella, A., Di Mascolo, L. , Ginolfi M., Carpita N., Trovato Manuncola F. & Grassi M. (2024). Evaluating the effectiveness of sonification in science education using Edukoi. Pers Ubiquit Comput . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-024-01809-5
2023
Lippolis, M., Carraturo, G., Ferreri, L., Vuust, P., Müllensiefen, D., Matarelli, B., & Brattico, E. (2023). Sensitivity to social reward in music behavior changes after music training in preadolescence. Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 19(4), 106-125.https://doi.org/10.5709/acp-0409-z
Navarro, J., Gaujoux, V., Ouimet, M. C., Ferreri, L., & Reynaud, E. (2023). How does background music affect drivers’ behaviours, emotions and mood behind the wheel?. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 98, 47-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2023.08.003
Labaronne, M., Ferreri, L., & Plancher, G. (2023). How do intentions modulate the effect of working memory on long-term memory?. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-023-02381-4
Fiveash, A., Ferreri, L.*, Bouwer, F. L., Kösem, A., Moghimi, S., Ravignani, A., et al.. (2023). Can rhythm-mediated reward boost learning, memory, and social connection? Perspectives for future research. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 105153 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105153
Curzel, F., Carraturo, G., Ripollés, P., & Ferreri, L. (2023). Better Off Alone? When Sharing Music Reduces Pleasure Responses. Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.5709/acp-0410-9
Mas‐Herrero, E., Ferreri, L., Cardona, G., Zatorre, R. J., Pla‐Juncà, F., Antonijoan, R. M., et al. (2023). The role of opioid transmission in music‐induced pleasure. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1520(1), 105-114. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14946
2022
Mas‐Herrero, E., Singer, N., Ferreri, L., McPhee, M., Zatorre, R. J., & Ripollés, P. (2022). Music engagement is negatively correlated with depressive symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic via reward‐related mechanisms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1519(1), 186-198. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14931
Ferreri, L., & Rodriguez‐Fornells, A. (2022). Memory modulations through musical pleasure. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14867
Benoit, C. E., Ferreri, L., Lega, C., & van Vugt, F. T. (2022). Rhythm in human cognition and action: Health and pathology. Frontiers in Psychology (Editorial), 13, 1047825. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1047825
Cardona, G., Ferreri, L., Lorenzo-Seva, U., Russo, F., Rodriguez-Fornells, A., (2022). The forgotten role of absorption in music reward. Annals of the New York Academy of Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14790
Ferreri, L., Versace, R., Victor, C., Plancher, G. (2022). Temporal predictions in space: isochronous rhythms promote forward projections of the body. Frontiers in Psychology, 1657. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.832322
Carraturo G., Ferreri, L., Vuust, P., Matera, F., Brattico, E. (2022). Empathy but not musicality is at the root of musical reward: A behavioral study with adults and children. Psychology of Music, https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356221081168
Lega, C., Cattaneo, L., & Costantini, G. (2022). How to test the association between baseline performance level and the modulatory effects of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16, 920558. 10.3389/fnhum.2022.920558
Massetti, G., Lega, C., Cattaneo, Z., Gallace, A., & Vallar, G. (2022). Exploring the effects of brain stimulation on musical taste: TDCS on the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex—a null result. Brain Sciences, 12(4), 467. 10.3390/brainsci12040467
Granot, R., Spitz, D. H., Cherki, B. R., Loui, P., Timmers, R., Schaefer, R. S., Lega, C., … & Israel, S. (2022). “Help! I need somebody”: music as a global resource for obtaining wellbeing goals in times of crisis. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 648013. 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.648013
Posters/Flash Talks
2024
Lazzari, G., Cattaneo, L., La Rocca, S., Massironi, A., Costantini, G., Penhune, V. & Lega, C. Spatial functional organization of musical rhythm perception in human premotor cortex: causal evidence from a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) study. Oral presentation at Cognitive Science Arena – University of Bressanone (Brixen)- February 8-11, 2024.
Lazzari, G., Sacheli, L., Benoit, C.-E., Van Vugt, F., & Lega, C.: Musical pleasantness shapes interpersonal synchronization: exploring the role of consonance and dissonance in dyadic joint action. Oral presentation at Terzo Incontro della Rete Italiana di Neuroscienze e Musica Neuromus.it – University of Bari, May 2-3, 2024.
Lazzari, G., Sacheli, L., Benoit, C.-E., Van Vugt, F, & Lega, C.: Musical pleasantness shapes our interpersonal synchronization: exploring the role of consonance and dissonance in joint action. Poster at The Neurosciences and Music – VIII – Helsinki – June 13-16, 2024.
Fullone, E., Lazzari, G., Ferreri, L., Lega, C.: Musical pleasantness shapes interpersonal synchronization: exploring the role of consonance and dissonance in dyadic joint action. Oral presentation at Terzo Incontro della Rete Italiana di Neuroscienze e Musica Neuromus.it – University of Bari, May 2-3, 2024.
Fullone, E., Gatti, D., Lazzari, G., Rinaldi, L., Lega, C., &, Ferreri, L.: The influence of individual sensitivity to music reward on rhythmic abilities. Poster at The Neurosciences and Music – VIII – Helsinki – June 13-16, 2024.
Abergel, L., Ferreri, L., Bufalari, I., Fusar-Poli, L., Sperduti, M.: La musique comme modulateur du maladaptive daydreaming. Poster and flash talk at the 23e Forum des sciences cognitives – Université Paris Cité – April 28, 2024
Abergel, L., Sperduti, M., Bufalari, I., Fusar-Poli, L., Ferreri, L.: Music and mind-wandering: the case of maladaptive daydreaming. Poster at The Neurosciences and Music – VIII – Helsinki – June 13-16, 2024.
Curzel, F., Tillmann, B., Fournel, A., Novembre, G., Ferreri, L. (2024). Shared musical pleasure modulates prefrontal activity and enhances inter-neural synchrony: an fNIRS hyperscanning study. The Neurosciences and Music – VIII, Helsinki, 13-16 June 2024.
Curzel, F., Tillmann, B., Ferreri, L. (2024). Lights on music cognition: applying fNIRS to ecologically track the diversity of music experiences. Oral presentation at Terzo Incontro della Rete Italiana di Neuroscienze e Musica “Neuromus.it”, Bari, 2-3 May 2024.
2023
Lazzari, G., Cattaneo, L., La Rocca, S., Massironi, A., Costantini, G., Penhune, V. & Lega, C.: On the role of the right premotor cortex in musical rhythm perception: a dense-TMS mapping approach. Oral presentation at Cognitive Science Arena – University of Bressanone (Brixen) – February 10-11, 2023.
Lazzari, G., Lega, C., Sacheli, L., Benoit, C.-E., & Van Vugt, F.: Let’s Play Together: The Effect Of Musical Pleasantness On Interpersonal Synchronization. Poster at ESCoP 2023 – 23rd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology – September 7-9, 2023
Lazzari, G., Cattaneo, L., La Rocca, S., Massironi, A., Costantini, G., Penhune, V. & Lega, C. ESCoP 2023 – 23rd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology – September 7-9, 2023.
Lazzari, G., Lega, C., Cattaneo, L., La Rocca, S., Massironi, A., Costantini, G., & Penhune, V.: The role of the premotor cortex in musical rhythm perception: a TMS study. Poster at AIP 2023 (Associazione Italiana di Psicologia) Congress – Lucca – sezione di Psicologia Sperimentale – September 18-20, 2023
Lazzari, G., Lega, C., Cattaneo, L., La Rocca, S., Massironi, A., Costantini, G., & Penhune, V.: The role of the premotor cortex in musical rhythm perception: a TMS study. Poster at SIPF2023 – Siena – November 9-11, 2023.
Fullone, E., Gatti, D., Lazzari, G., Rinaldi, L., Lega, C., &, Ferreri, L.: The relationship between rhythmic abilities and music reward sensitivity. Poster at ESCoP 2023 – 23rd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology – September 7-9, 2023
Fullone, E., Gatti, D., Lazzari, G., Rinaldi, L., Lega, C., &, Ferreri, L.: La relazione tra le abilità ritmiche e la sensibilità alla ricompensa musicale. Poster at AIP2023 (Associazione Italiana di Psicologia) Congress – Lucca – sezione di Psicologia Sperimentale – September 18-20, 2023
Abergel, L., Ferreri, L., Bufalari, I., Fusar-Poli, L., Sperduti, M.: Symptômes de dissociation et sensibilité intéroceptive lors d’épisode de maladaptive daydreaming. Poster at the Journée d’Hiver de la SNLF – University Paris 8 – December 1st, 2023
Abergel, L., Ferreri, L., Bufalari, I., Fusar-Poli, L., Sperduti, M.: Can listening to music trigger and modulate maladaptive daydreaming? Talk at The 18th International Conference for Young Researchers in Psychology – University of Lille – December 08, 2023
Curzel, F., Tillmann, B., Ferreri, L. (2023). Listening to music with a friend modulates reward responses and memory. 23rdConference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology, Porto, Portugal, 6-9 September 2023.
Curzel, F., Tillmann, B., Fournel, A., Novembre, G., Ferreri, L. (2023). Tuning into harmony: Unveiling the influence of social music listening on pleasure and Inter-Neural Synchrony. fNIRS Italy, Society for Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Padova, Italy, 6-7 July 2023.
Curzel, F., Tillmann, B., Fournel, A., Novembre, G., Ferreri, L. (2023). Tuning into harmony: Unveiling the influence of social music listening on pleasure and Inter-Neural Synchrony. Oral presentation at fNIRS Italy, Society for Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Padova, 6-7 July 2023.
Carraturo, G., Ferreri, L., Cardona, G., Lorenzo-Seva, U., Rodriguez-Fornells, A., Brattico, E. (2023). The Italian Version of extended Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire (eBMRQ): A Validation Study and Association with Age, Gender and Musicianship. Association of Italian Psychology (AIP) – Experimental Section, Lucca, Italy, 20-22 September 2023.
Ferreri, L., Abergel , L., Bufalari, I., Fusar-Poli, L. , Sperduti, M. (2023). The role of music in maladaptive daydreaming. 23rd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP). Porto, Portugal, 6-9 September 2023.
Chabin, T., Nave, K., Hoddinott, J., Ferreri, L., Grahn. J. (2023). The influence of rhythmic abilities and social context on musical pleasure: an EEG interbrain synchrony study. Rhythm Production and Perception Workshop. Nottingham, UK, 19-22 June 2023.