Research

Basic research programs at the Institute for Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine are focused on emotional reactions to music and musical memories as well as sensorimotor learning in musicians:
Emotional reactions to music and the relation of musical memories to emotions are studied in several approaches based on psychological methods (e.g., continuous self-report, character inventories) as well as physiological measurements (e.g., skin conductance, heart rate). Experiments are performed in individual laboratory settings as well as in a new developed internet approach. For the future we plan experiments in social contexts and EEG studies of strong emotional reactions to music.
The acquisition and maintenance of sensorimotor skills in musicians are investigated with special interest in the neurobiological principles (e.g. audiomotor integration) as well as in physiological, psychological and pedagogical aspects (e.g. sensorimotor precision in professional musicians, practice strategies, biographical predictors of sensorimotor skills).
Clinical research programs aim at a better understanding of the two central challenges in Musicians’ Medicine: Focal dystonia in musicians and pain syndromes in musicians. A number of projects are conducted to investigate the etiology and pathophysiology of these disorders and improve diagnostic tools and therapeutic options. Further clinical studies are carried out to illuminate the applicability of music-supported training of motor functions in the rehabilitation of patients after stroke.