About Me
I am a professor of Biological and Medical Psychology and Music Psychology at the University of Bergen. My work explores how music shapes the brain, emotions and health. In addition to scientific articles, I write popular science books that make complex research accessible to a wider audience.
You can find more information about my academic profile and university activities on the University of Bergen website.
Research Topics
Neural correlates of emotion
Investigating how emotions are represented in the brain and how music evokes complex feeling states.
Neurocognition of music
Studying how musical structure is perceived and processed, from syntax to semantics and beyond.
Therapeutic effects of music
Exploring the clinical applications of music therapy for conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to depression.
Unconscious processes
Examining how non-conscious neural processes influence behaviour, health and well‑being.
Cardiac biomarkers
Linking heart‑based measures to emotion, personality and physiological resilience.
Books
Good Vibrations: Unlocking the Healing Power of Music
This new book presents the latest science on how music impacts our brains, emotions and health. It also offers practical insights on harnessing music for well‑being.
Order
Good Vibrations: Die heilende Kraft der Musik
The German best‑seller exploring the healing power of music, evolution, language and emotion. Packed with examples and tips for everyday life.
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Die dunkle Seite des Gehirns
A German book on the hidden forces of the unconscious, offering insights and everyday strategies to outsmart negative thought loops.
OrderLatest Publications
- 2024 – The effects of musicality on brain network topology in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and memory decline
- 2023 – Sensorimotor synchronization to music reduces pain
- 2023 – Cognitive and sensory expectations independently shape musical expectancy and pleasure
- 2023 – Neural correlates of statistical learning in developmental dyslexia: An electroencephalography study
- 2023 – A 12‑month randomised pilot trial of the Alzheimer’s and music therapy study
Stimulus Repository
Our research depends on carefully controlled sound stimuli. Many of these stimuli are freely available – including chord sequences, musical excerpts, and polyphonic stimuli. Download complete sets to replicate experiments or explore the sounds yourself.