Lauren Stewart

Department of Psychology

Whitehead Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, 

New Cross, London SE14 6NW

UK

Tel: +44(0)2079197195

e-mail:  l.stewart@gold.ac.uk

Theme Areas:

Development - Comparison of acquisition of singing and acquisition of speaking

Research:

I am senior lecturer within the department of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London. My research area concerns the cognition and neuroscientific basis of musical behaviour. A major focus of current interest concerns congenital amusia: a developmental disorder of musical perception which I am investigating using behavioural, genetic and neuroimaging approaches. The research is funded by a 3 year grant from the Economic and Social Research Council.  In 2008 I was awarded the Experimental Psychology Society Prize, for ‘outstanding contribution to research at an early career stage’.  

Public Engagement:

I have made substantial contributions to the public understanding of science by talking about my work at venues such as the Royal Institution and the Cheltenham Festival of Science, and writing articles/giving interviews for the BBC (Radio 4, World Service), New York Public Radio, BBC Music Magazine, the Times and the Guardian newspapers.  I recently chaired a discussion event with Oliver Sacks and featured in a BBC TV programme, Imagine, that was based on his book, Musicophilia.

Teaching: 

I recently established a new MSc programme at Goldsmiths in Music, Mind and Brain, which will start September 2008.  This programme is the first of its kind, bringing together music cognition and a neuroscientific approach to the understanding of music.

Editorial:

I review for a number of peer-reviewed journals and grant bodies (UK and international) and I am associate editor for the journal, Psychomusicology.

Contributions to the AIRS project:

Connection with a major research program on congenital amusia, which has, as a focus, comparisons of pitch perception and production in music and speech

High-calibre students (8 – 12 per year), on the MSc in Music, Mind and Brain, who can devote 6 months of sustained effort in conducting research projects in this area.

Good links with media and public engagement initiatives, through which I can publicize the work of AIRS

Benefitting from the AIRS project:

1) International collaboration will provide access to researchers with a range of expertise, allowing me to be extend my research into areas that would not otherwise have been possible.

2) The emphasis on policy development is attractive.  It is always gratifying to be part of a research programme that has the potential to affect the quality of life of any sector of society. 

3) The opportunity to provide students on the MSc in Music, Mind and Brain with research projects within the AIRS framework will be very attractive: students have an opportunity to visit labs overseas, work with world experts in the field and conduct high quality research within an integrated research programme.

4) Annual meetings will provide an opportunity to obtain feedback from many diverse perspectives.   

Facilities for myself and students:

Skills: My group has experience in auditory psychophysics,  neuropsychological testing, speech synthesis, structural and functional MRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Lab setups: The department of psychology has a sound attenuated chamber and laboratory setups for EEG, physiological recording and infant testing.  Application for a transcranial magnetic stimulation machine is pending.