This study investigates how people tell the difference between rhythmic patterns coming in the two ears, even in the presence of noise. Participants will listen to a series of drumming patterns with headphones on. For each drumming pattern, participants will be asked whether the pattern they hear in their right ear is the same as or different from the pattern they hear in their left ear.

This study will be conducted online. More details will be posted soon.

For more information, please email melanie.holmes@utdallas.edu.

Study Personnel: Melanie Holmes

This study investigates the differences in how French and American listeners describe Western music, and how music descriptors correspond to concrete musical qualities.

We are currently not recruiting participants for this study, but we plan on extending this to include Indian, Iranian, Nigerian, and Taiwanese listeners in the future. Stay tuned!

For more information, please email bmizener@utdallas.edu.

Study Personnel: Brendon Mizener

This is a longitudinal study that investigates the effects of rhythm and melody on cognitive and motor abilities of participants with Parkinson’s disease. The study will provide evidence on whether brief exposure to solo rhythmic patterns played on Carnātic (South Indian classical) percussion instruments “thavil” and “mridangam,” as well as when combined with melodic patterns will facilitate performance on simple cognitive and motor tasks.

We are currently analyzing the data.

For more information, please email rachna.raman@utdallas.edu.

Study Personnel: Anuja Jayachandran, Anika Rao, Jacob Thomas

This study examines how we perceive key changes—modulations—in Western and non-Western music. Participants will hear a series of brief excerpts of classical music that often contain changes of key. When they hear a change of key, they will press a button.

We are currently analyzing the data.

For more information, please email rachna.raman@utdallas.edu or bmizener@utdallas.edu.