Music, an ancient art defined by acoustic units by musicologists and by cultural units by anthropologists, has its roots in nature and biology. It would be the extension of natural phenomena that have interpenetrated each other in the human species, arranged according to combinations and sound choices to respond to a specific aesthetic and emotional need that can influence human behavior. In fact, nature is rhythm: the seasons, the daily cycles, the heartbeat, the trot of a horse, the movements of the waves. The universe consists of waves and vibrations. Musicians have not only been inspired by these natural phenomena for their creations, they are an integral part of human beings.
While physiologists are well aware of the physiological basis for the perception or production of sound, neuroscience seeks to explain the cellular, molecular and electrophysiological processes and neural connections that underlie all aspects of musical practice.
How does the brain perceive the accuracy of a note? Why does music sometimes create feelings of joy or sorrow? What are the special features of memory associated with music? What is the innate and acquired part of practicing music?
Neuromusicology needs researchers with dual training: musicologists interested in neuroscience and neurologists enthusiastic about the world of music and musicology, but also anthropologists and sociologists. This is a crucial prerequisite for tackling such a topic by combining music and neuroscience.
In collaboration between Beit al-Hikma (Department of Science and Arts), the Laboratory for Research in Culture, New Technologies and Development (CUNTIC) and the Polish Academy of Sciences, the international conference “Music and Neuroscience” will take place on the 7th and March 8, 2024 at the Academy of Sciences, Literature and Arts. The aim of Beit al-hikma, as we read in the argument, is to take stock of the current state of knowledge in neuroscience with regard to the physiological foundations of musical practice. This includes perceptual and emotional processes that are generated by sounds and rhythms as well as those that play a role in musical practices of all genres and styles of interpretation. Using this knowledge to inventory all aspects of musical perception could not only improve methods of music learning and music therapy, but also open up new research opportunities in these areas.
This international symposium brings together experts from different fields and offers a unique opportunity for networking and interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants have the opportunity to exchange knowledge, build interdisciplinary research partnerships and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
The meeting between musicians, musicologists, neurologists and researchers in related fields aims to respond to this need for interdisciplinary interaction, to open debate on an arsenal of epistemological questions and to enrich themselves with the knowledge acquired in each of these disciplines. This exchange, initiated by the Arts and Sciences Departments of Beit al-Hikma, will open perspectives for interdisciplinary research at national and international levels by pushing the boundaries of research and creativity.
Participants discuss music as an interacting biological and cultural process (ethnomusicology, anthropology), fundamental concepts of the cognitive psychology of music (psychology),
musical learning, emotions, creativity and cultural and musical diversity (musicology/psychology), advances in imaging, acoustics and artificial intelligence as applied to music (biophysics, computer science) and music therapy (music therapy), to take stock of practical applications in psychological health to do rehabilitation.
The conference also provides an opportunity to showcase the latest technologies and research methods, promoting a deeper understanding of the relationship between music and the brain.