Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
The SMMBL at the University of Sydney explores how music affects higher order cognition, as well as ways to support musicians' health. https://www.sydney.edu.au/music/our-research/cross-disciplinary-research/sydney-music-mind-and-body-lab.html
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Can music be good company? Research shows it makes our imagination more social
When people listen to music, they’re more likely to imagine social interactions.
theconversation.com
Can music be good company?
We contributed a small piece to the @theconversation.com drawing from recent work in the field of music and mental imagery. #musicscience #mentalimagery
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
We contributed a small piece to the @theconversation.com drawing from recent work in the field of music and mental imagery. #musicscience #mentalimagery
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Following the publication of our paper "Micro-variations in timing and loudness affect music-evoked mental imagery", the University of Sydney has just shared a media release!
How tiny tweaks in music shape what we imagine
www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
How tiny tweaks in music shape what we imagine
www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
How tiny tweaks in music shape what we imagine
New research from the Sydney Music, Mind and Body Lab at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the University of Sydney has found that even the smallest of human touches in music can shape and enhance...
www.sydney.edu.au
September 10, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Following the publication of our paper "Micro-variations in timing and loudness affect music-evoked mental imagery", the University of Sydney has just shared a media release!
How tiny tweaks in music shape what we imagine
www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
How tiny tweaks in music shape what we imagine
www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
The first study from my PhD project is now available! 🎉
"Micro-variations in timing and loudness affect music-evoked mental imagery"
Supervised by wonderful @steffenherff.bsky.social @andytonality.bsky.social and @muireannirish.bsky.social.
Read here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"Micro-variations in timing and loudness affect music-evoked mental imagery"
Supervised by wonderful @steffenherff.bsky.social @andytonality.bsky.social and @muireannirish.bsky.social.
Read here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Micro-variations in timing and loudness affect music-evoked mental imagery - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Micro-variations in timing and loudness affect music-evoked mental imagery
www.nature.com
August 25, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The first study from my PhD project is now available! 🎉
"Micro-variations in timing and loudness affect music-evoked mental imagery"
Supervised by wonderful @steffenherff.bsky.social @andytonality.bsky.social and @muireannirish.bsky.social.
Read here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"Micro-variations in timing and loudness affect music-evoked mental imagery"
Supervised by wonderful @steffenherff.bsky.social @andytonality.bsky.social and @muireannirish.bsky.social.
Read here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
“Whether we’re celebrating or grieving, music is something we can turn to."
A new study led by @steffenherff.bsky.social from @sydney.edu.au's Sydney Conservatorium of Music has shown for the first time empirically that music can keep you company by facilitating imagined social interactions.
A new study led by @steffenherff.bsky.social from @sydney.edu.au's Sydney Conservatorium of Music has shown for the first time empirically that music can keep you company by facilitating imagined social interactions.
Music is good company: new study shows music induces social imagination
Music keeps you company: a new study led by Dr Steffen A. Herff, cognitive neuroscientist at Sydney, Music, Mind and Body Lab at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, has shown for the first time empirically that music can indeed keep you company by facilitating imagined social interactions.
go.sydney.edu.au
August 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM
“Whether we’re celebrating or grieving, music is something we can turn to."
A new study led by @steffenherff.bsky.social from @sydney.edu.au's Sydney Conservatorium of Music has shown for the first time empirically that music can keep you company by facilitating imagined social interactions.
A new study led by @steffenherff.bsky.social from @sydney.edu.au's Sydney Conservatorium of Music has shown for the first time empirically that music can keep you company by facilitating imagined social interactions.
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
@cerenayyildiz.bsky.social from the @smmb-lab.bsky.social just did a wonderful interview on live TV discussing our recent research looking at 'Can Music be good company'.
#musicscience #mentalimagery @sydney.edu.au
#musicscience #mentalimagery @sydney.edu.au
August 9, 2025 at 12:52 AM
@cerenayyildiz.bsky.social from the @smmb-lab.bsky.social just did a wonderful interview on live TV discussing our recent research looking at 'Can Music be good company'.
#musicscience #mentalimagery @sydney.edu.au
#musicscience #mentalimagery @sydney.edu.au
Wonderful to see our research being featured on the ABC's Weekend Breakfast. In a wonderful chat between @cerenayyildiz.bsky.social from the Sydney, Music, Mind, and Body Lab, and Fauziah Ibrahim & Tom Oriti from the ABC, they discussed how music can be good company. @sydney.edu.au
August 9, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Wonderful to see our research being featured on the ABC's Weekend Breakfast. In a wonderful chat between @cerenayyildiz.bsky.social from the Sydney, Music, Mind, and Body Lab, and Fauziah Ibrahim & Tom Oriti from the ABC, they discussed how music can be good company. @sydney.edu.au
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Can you think of examples of books, films, TV shows, etc. featuring earworms or other types of imagined music? Please share them here! musicinmyhead.org/inner-music-...
Inner Music in Fiction and Biography - The Inner Music and Wellbeing Network
Inner Music in Fiction and Biography ‘Inner music’ or ‘musical imagery’ refers to the music that one hears in one’s own head. For example, an ‘earworm’ is a catchy piece of music that is stuck in one’...
musicinmyhead.org
August 6, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Can you think of examples of books, films, TV shows, etc. featuring earworms or other types of imagined music? Please share them here! musicinmyhead.org/inner-music-...
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
My supervisor, Dr @steffenherff.bsky.social, and I wrote this piece for The Conversation on music and imagination:
“Can music be good company?”
…based on our lab’s recent work
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
“Can music be good company?”
…based on our lab’s recent work
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
Can music be good company? Research shows it makes our imagination more social
When people listen to music, they’re more likely to imagine social interactions.
theconversation.com
August 6, 2025 at 7:55 AM
My supervisor, Dr @steffenherff.bsky.social, and I wrote this piece for The Conversation on music and imagination:
“Can music be good company?”
…based on our lab’s recent work
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
“Can music be good company?”
…based on our lab’s recent work
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
Can music be good company?
We contributed a small piece to the @theconversation.com drawing from recent work in the field of music and mental imagery. #musicscience #mentalimagery
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
We contributed a small piece to the @theconversation.com drawing from recent work in the field of music and mental imagery. #musicscience #mentalimagery
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
Can music be good company? Research shows it makes our imagination more social
When people listen to music, they’re more likely to imagine social interactions.
theconversation.com
August 6, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Can music be good company?
We contributed a small piece to the @theconversation.com drawing from recent work in the field of music and mental imagery. #musicscience #mentalimagery
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
We contributed a small piece to the @theconversation.com drawing from recent work in the field of music and mental imagery. #musicscience #mentalimagery
theconversation.com/can-music-be...
Delighted to share our new work 'Solitary silence and social sounds: music can influence mental imagery, inducing thoughts of social interactions'. We show that music is indeed good company! #musicscience #mentalimagery www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Solitary silence and social sounds: music can influence mental imagery, inducing thoughts of social interactions - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Solitary silence and social sounds: music can influence mental imagery, inducing thoughts of social interactions
www.nature.com
August 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Delighted to share our new work 'Solitary silence and social sounds: music can influence mental imagery, inducing thoughts of social interactions'. We show that music is indeed good company! #musicscience #mentalimagery www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We had a great time in São Paulo! A massive thanks to all attendees, both in person and online, as well as the organisers of the #icmpc18 who made this such a rich experience. #musicscience
July 25, 2025 at 10:39 PM
We had a great time in São Paulo! A massive thanks to all attendees, both in person and online, as well as the organisers of the #icmpc18 who made this such a rich experience. #musicscience
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Massimo Grassi, Do musicians have better short-term memory than nonmusicians?
Multilab study shows musos are different from non-musos.
+ shows small effects can be reliably detected.
+ multilab benefits> diverse, globally rep. samples w/ research work distributed
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience #ICMPC18
Multilab study shows musos are different from non-musos.
+ shows small effects can be reliably detected.
+ multilab benefits> diverse, globally rep. samples w/ research work distributed
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience #ICMPC18
July 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Massimo Grassi, Do musicians have better short-term memory than nonmusicians?
Multilab study shows musos are different from non-musos.
+ shows small effects can be reliably detected.
+ multilab benefits> diverse, globally rep. samples w/ research work distributed
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience #ICMPC18
Multilab study shows musos are different from non-musos.
+ shows small effects can be reliably detected.
+ multilab benefits> diverse, globally rep. samples w/ research work distributed
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience #ICMPC18
Fernando Castellar from the SMMBL shows how the use of music and mental imagery differs between athletes and coaches and as a function of competitive level. #icmpc18 #musicscience
July 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Fernando Castellar from the SMMBL shows how the use of music and mental imagery differs between athletes and coaches and as a function of competitive level. #icmpc18 #musicscience
In addition to her talk on the effect of rhythmic layering on mental imagery, @cerenayyildiz.bsky.social from the SMMBL also contributed a poster showing compelling interactions between musical micro variations and individual absorption tendencies on mental imagery #icmpc18 #musicscience
July 25, 2025 at 12:24 AM
In addition to her talk on the effect of rhythmic layering on mental imagery, @cerenayyildiz.bsky.social from the SMMBL also contributed a poster showing compelling interactions between musical micro variations and individual absorption tendencies on mental imagery #icmpc18 #musicscience
Fernando Castellar from the SMMBL presents new data on how music & mental imagery affect performance in a sporting task. He shows that even after a single, short mental imagery session, skill acquisition is already dramatically increased! #icmpc18 #musicscience
July 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Fernando Castellar from the SMMBL presents new data on how music & mental imagery affect performance in a sporting task. He shows that even after a single, short mental imagery session, skill acquisition is already dramatically increased! #icmpc18 #musicscience
At #icmpc18 @adefathiawati.bsky.social from the SMMBL shares new data about the prevalence of Music Performance Anxiety, as well as deployed mitigation strategies amongst tertiary music student in Australia.
July 25, 2025 at 12:04 AM
At #icmpc18 @adefathiawati.bsky.social from the SMMBL shares new data about the prevalence of Music Performance Anxiety, as well as deployed mitigation strategies amongst tertiary music student in Australia.
@ugurmkaya.bsky.social from the SMMBL shares at the #icmpc18 how expert vocalists can intentionally shape the mental imagery of listeners. In a mixed method design he collected 6 hours(!) of singing and interview recordings for each participating vocalists. #musicscience
July 24, 2025 at 11:54 PM
@ugurmkaya.bsky.social from the SMMBL shares at the #icmpc18 how expert vocalists can intentionally shape the mental imagery of listeners. In a mixed method design he collected 6 hours(!) of singing and interview recordings for each participating vocalists. #musicscience
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Ade (@adefathiawati.bsky.social) from our lab highlighted updated trends in Music Performance Anxiety among tertiary music students across Australia, as well as the mitigation strategies students use 📊
#ICMPC18
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
#ICMPC18
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Ade (@adefathiawati.bsky.social) from our lab highlighted updated trends in Music Performance Anxiety among tertiary music students across Australia, as well as the mitigation strategies students use 📊
#ICMPC18
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
#ICMPC18
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Ugur @ugurmkaya.bsky.social from our lab just gave a great talk at #ICMPC18 on how vocalists draw on their own intuitions to influence the vividness and emotional quality of listeners’ mental imagery. 🎤
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Ugur @ugurmkaya.bsky.social from our lab just gave a great talk at #ICMPC18 on how vocalists draw on their own intuitions to influence the vividness and emotional quality of listeners’ mental imagery. 🎤
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
#icmpc18 more excellent research coming from @smmb-lab.bsky.social. Ade Fathiawati shares her findings on psychological and pharmacological strategies to mitigate performance anxiety among students.
July 24, 2025 at 1:12 PM
#icmpc18 more excellent research coming from @smmb-lab.bsky.social. Ade Fathiawati shares her findings on psychological and pharmacological strategies to mitigate performance anxiety among students.
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
My lab colleague Fernando Castellar presented his poster on ‘The prevalence of music, mental imagery, and their combined use as a mental training technique by athletes and coaches’ at #ICMPC18 today! 🏋️🏌️♂️⛹️♀️🎶🎧💭 it’s inspiring to see how far his research has come!
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:48 PM
My lab colleague Fernando Castellar presented his poster on ‘The prevalence of music, mental imagery, and their combined use as a mental training technique by athletes and coaches’ at #ICMPC18 today! 🏋️🏌️♂️⛹️♀️🎶🎧💭 it’s inspiring to see how far his research has come!
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
@smmb-lab.bsky.social
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
My wonderful PhD supervisor, @steffenherff.bsky.social, gave a fantastic talk at #ICMPC18 on “Expertise predicts more efficient muscle spike shapes in drummers” today! 🥁 Incredible to see how nuanced motor control evolves with skill 💪
#ICMPC18 @smmb-lab.bsky.social
#ICMPC18 @smmb-lab.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
My wonderful PhD supervisor, @steffenherff.bsky.social, gave a fantastic talk at #ICMPC18 on “Expertise predicts more efficient muscle spike shapes in drummers” today! 🥁 Incredible to see how nuanced motor control evolves with skill 💪
#ICMPC18 @smmb-lab.bsky.social
#ICMPC18 @smmb-lab.bsky.social
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Dr. Steffen Herff from @smmb-lab.bsky.social shares very rich findings at #icmpc18 about expertise-related muscle activation in drummers. This work has important implications for biofeedback interventions to help musicians develop their skills and avoid playing-related injury. #musicscience
July 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Dr. Steffen Herff from @smmb-lab.bsky.social shares very rich findings at #icmpc18 about expertise-related muscle activation in drummers. This work has important implications for biofeedback interventions to help musicians develop their skills and avoid playing-related injury. #musicscience
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Miriam Olsen, @smmb-lab.bsky.social,The efficacy of using biofeedback... : A systematic review and meta-analysis
>biofeedback has potential to regulate muscle activity, improve musical performance & reduce musicians' health symptoms
>could supplement normal practice
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience
>biofeedback has potential to regulate muscle activity, improve musical performance & reduce musicians' health symptoms
>could supplement normal practice
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience
July 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Miriam Olsen, @smmb-lab.bsky.social,The efficacy of using biofeedback... : A systematic review and meta-analysis
>biofeedback has potential to regulate muscle activity, improve musical performance & reduce musicians' health symptoms
>could supplement normal practice
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience
>biofeedback has potential to regulate muscle activity, improve musical performance & reduce musicians' health symptoms
>could supplement normal practice
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Congratulations to @harinlee.info for winning the #ICMPC18 best student paper award! 🥇
July 22, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Congratulations to @harinlee.info for winning the #ICMPC18 best student paper award! 🥇
Reposted by Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab
Suvi Saarikallio, Psychological functions of personally meaningful vs mundane music listening
emotions/memories more prevalent in personally meaningful compared to music in general (where fun/background = more prevalent), so we need to consider personal context of music
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience
emotions/memories more prevalent in personally meaningful compared to music in general (where fun/background = more prevalent), so we need to consider personal context of music
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience
July 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Suvi Saarikallio, Psychological functions of personally meaningful vs mundane music listening
emotions/memories more prevalent in personally meaningful compared to music in general (where fun/background = more prevalent), so we need to consider personal context of music
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience
emotions/memories more prevalent in personally meaningful compared to music in general (where fun/background = more prevalent), so we need to consider personal context of music
#ICMPC2025 #MusicScience