Music is a window into how the brain thinks, feels, and heals. The Music & the Brain Summer School explores the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and music, an increasingly interdisciplinary field that connects fundamental research with real-world applications.
The program welcomes undergraduate and PhD students, as well as early-career researchers and professionals interested in understanding how music shapes cognition, emotion, and behavior. Participants will explore the neural mechanisms underlying music perception, movement, emotion, and social cognition. They will gain hands-on experience with neuroimaging and brain stimulation techniques, learn from clinicians applying music-based interventions in neurological and psychiatric contexts, and engage in interactive discussions with leading experts in the field.
Set in the beautiful city of Pavia and hosted by one of the oldest universities in Europe, the summer school also offers a platform for international collaboration, fostering new academic exchanges and research partnerships.
Organizers
Laura Ferreri, University of Pavia, Italy
Carlotta Lega, University of Pavia, Italy
The school is supported by Pavia University and ESCOP, European Society for Cognitive Psychology.
Partners
(Erasmus+ BIP Program)
Peter Keller, Aarhus University, Denmark
Barbara Tillmann, Université de Bourgogne Europe, France
Confirmed Speakers
Robert Zatorre, Montreal Neurological Institute & BRAMS International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research, Canada
Virginia Penhune, Concordia University, Canada
Roberta Bianco, University of Pisa, Italy
Felix Bigand, Italian Institute of Technology of Rome, Italy
Elvira Brattico, Aarhus University, Denmark & University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy
Alice Cancer, Catholic University of Milan, Italy
Laura Cirelli, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada
Federico Curzel, University of Pavia, Italy
Keith Doelling, Institut de l’Audition, France
Laura Fusar-Poli, University of Pavia, Italy
Massimo Grassi, University of Padua, Italy
Ernest Mas-Herrero, University of Barcelona, Spain
Tomas Matthews, Aarhus University, Denmark
Giacomo Novembre, Italian Institute of Technology of Rome, Italy
Antonio Pisani, University of Pavia, Italy
Andrea Ravignani, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
More Info
The program will be conducted in English. Participation will be limited to 35 students. Further details regarding the organization of the school, fees, and application procedures will be provided soon.
Stay tuned for updates — and get ready to join an enriching week in Pavia!