IMHSD Members Present at Inaugural MLAL Symposium

From Left to Right: Dr Ana Almeida, Dr Katie Overy and Emma Moore

IMHSD members Dr Ana Almeida, Dee Isaacs, Dr Katie Overy and Emma Moore participated in the in the inaugural symposium of the Musical Learning Across the Lifespan (MLAL) initiative, which brings together researchers from the Don Wright Faculty of Music and the Brain and Mind Institute at Western University, Canada.

Ana’s talk was entitled ‘Movement Responses to Music in Early Childhood’, and focused on a recent observation study in which 4- and 5-year-old children were invited to move to rhythmic music in anyway they wished. Dee’s talk was entitled ‘Crossing the Borders: Working with Marginalised Communities in Scotland and West Africa’ and focused on her community music work. Emma’ talk was entitled ‘Musically Cued Motor Training and Neuroplasticity’ and discussed a recent study exploring structural changes in white matter connectivity following a 4-week period of movement training with musical cues. Dr Katie Overy directed the event and chaired a panel discussion about musical learning.

This enjoyable public event also featured keynote talks from Dr Psyche Loui and Prof Steven Demorest and talks from faculty members at the Don Wright Faculty of Music and the Brain and Mind Institute.

For the full programme please refer to the conference website:

http://music.uwo.ca/research/research_groups/mlal/pdf/MLAL-program-online.pdf