Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior
Open Access

Abstract

Around the globe, we all the more see the intentional usage of music and sound to increasingly expand as a ‘tool’ of biopsychological research in the context of the prenatal and postnatal (perinatal) medicine practice and education. Investigations focusing on the early years of life have clearly shown that there are functional specialisations for sound processing in the human brain, while it has been established that the brainstem, being a crucial part of the auditory system, is hugely affected sound-wise by the environment and care practices very early in life. However, not much research has directly addressed this correlation that may exist between music and the brainstem’s neuronal growth; in function and structure. We do not really know how the brainstem’s maturation process progresses in the first months of life, through sound and most of all music, thus affecting the later adult brain function and the whole life-span disorders. How is this specific part of the subcortical brain region, which is closely connected to sound perception and decoding, influenced by this very powerful neuroplastic force that music imposes on its neuronal circuits? This presentation, having a twofold approach in mind, will first communicate the latest research evidence on the sound and music brain perception field in the early stages of life, while later will showcase a relevant research protocol, discussing details on this kind of research as of its procedures and possible outcomes.

Biography

Papatzikis is an Assistant Professor in Educational Neuroscience, fervently studying the field of brain development and perception through sound and music. He has been extensively trained in and worked on neuroscience and music education in many high-profile institutions prior to joining the Canadian University Dubai, including Harvard University, the University of East Anglia, the UCL, Institute of Education, University of London and its adjunct centre of Educational Neuroscience as well as the International Brain Research Organisation. Dr. Papatzikis has experience in industry across Europe and the USA as an advisor and researcher, including among other roles within the Botin Foundation, Spain; the Early Arts, UK and the Early Years Programs at the BBC Network. Dr. Papatzikis is a registered member of the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO), the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research (SEMPRE), UK, and the International Society for Music Education (ISME). He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), UK, and holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with the National College for Teaching and Leadership, UK, and the Ministry of Education, Greece (QTS).

E-mail: efp331@mail.harvard.edu