Neuroscience Informed Music

Dr. Minton's current project is on music, the brain, and healing. It starts with understanding music's powerful impact on physiological and psychological states. Studies reveal music's diverse health benefits, including promoting weight gain in NICU babies, alleviating depression, enhancing reading comprehension in individuals with ADHD, accelerating recovery in stroke patients, and influencing a wider range of conditions. Using EEG and other psychophysiological indicators, dimensions within musical compositions related to these positive outcomes are starting to be documented. She has partnered with Peppino D'Agostino, a world-class guitarist, to create music to create specific brain states related to improved functioning. D'Agostino has recorded 19 CDs, performed in over 35 countries, and shared the stage with such greats as Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, Tommy Emmanuel, Leo Kottke, Martin Taylor, Roland Dyens, David Tanenbaum and many more.

The album Calm the Storm was thoughtfully composed to help normalize brain networks associated with chronic pain, migraine, and insomnia. Preliminary data from ten volunteers has been gathered to explore its effects. Our vision is to support healing through an accessible, affordable musical intervention—one that can be easily integrated into everyday life and used in a wide range of settings.

Photograph of Peppino D'Agostino taken by Voena.