Lab News
Recent news and events from the lab:
Lab Facilities
Read more about our lab space (Room 825, Redmond Barry Building, Parkville) and anechoic chamber for auditory research.
Important: Prof. Sarah Wilson is not currently available for supervision. We are unable to facilitate any requests for Masters/PhD supervision with Prof. Wilson. If you would like to work with one of the other senior researchers listed on this page, please contact them directly via their emails listed.
For all other lab-related enquiries, including media requests, please email the Lab Manager at cmn-lab@unimelb.edu.au.
Head of Lab
- Prof Sarah Wilson FAHMS, FASSA
Co-CEO, Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Professor, Clinical Neuropsychology and Music Neuroscience
E: sarahw@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Proud mum of 2 budding scientists
Current Members
- Dr Genevieve Rayner
Senior Lecturer, Psychology
E: raynerg@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Makes the best homemade limoncello - A/Prof Charles Malpas
Associate Professor, Psychology
E: charles.malpas@unimelb.edu.au - A/Prof Margaret Osborne
Associate Professor, Psychology and Music
E: m.osborne@unimelb.edu.au
Δ “Rainbow Lorikeet” (4WD call sign) - Dr Courtney Walton
Senior Lecturer, Psychology
E: courtney.walton@unimelb.edu.au - Dr. Daniel Yeom
Lab Manager
E: yeom.d@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Huge Pokemon nerd - Dr. Fiore D'Aprano
Lecturer, Psychology
E: fiore.daprano@unimelb.edu.au - Hannah Taylor
Research Officer
E: taylor.h@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Crazy cat lady - Kendall Stead
Research Assistant
E: kendall.stead@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Has a photo exhibition - Kristian Holth
MPsych (Clin Neuro)/PhD Student
E: kristian.holth@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Fascinated with commercial airliners - Tammy Dennis
PhD Student
E: t.dennis@student.unimelb.edu.au
Δ Student of “imagination” - Eliza Honybun
PhD Student
E: eliza.honybun@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Netflix, Netflix, Netflix - Emmelyne Jack
PhD Student
E: eljack@student.unimelb.edu.au
Δ Cheesy-horror movie enthusiast - Alyssa Henning
Mpsych (Clin Neuro) Student
E: henninga@student.unimelb.edu.au
Δ Makes the best spiced coffee - Jacquie Eyres
Mpsych (Clin Neuro) Student
E: jeyres@student.unimelb.edu.au
Δ Nordic noir binge-watcher - Dr. Jane Bairnsfather
Honorary Member
Δ Paddock-to-table cook - Dr Laura Bird
Honorary Member
Δ Mother to Gandalf the Cat - Dr Honor Coleman
Honorary Member
E: honor.coleman@unimelb.edu.au - Dr Solange Glasser
Honorary Member
Senior Lecturer, Music Psychology
E: solange.glasser@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Prone to earworm attacks - A/Prof Neil McLachlan
Honorary Member
E: mcln@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Creator of the “Federation Bells” - Dr Miriam Mosing
Honorary Member
Associate Professor and Docent, Karolinska Institute
E: miriam.mosing@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Loves horses - Dr Valerie Yap
Honorary Member
E: valerie.yap@unimelb.edu.au
Δ Former pro-wrestling fanatic
Key Collaborators
- Prof Sam Berkovic - Epilepsy Research Centre, The University of Melbourne
- Prof Nick Haslam - Social/Personality Lab (MSPS), The University of Melbourne
- Prof Michael Hildebrand - Epilepsy Research Centre, The University of Melbourne
- Prof Richard Kanaan - Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne
- A/Prof Peter Koval - FEEL Lab (MSPS), The University of Melbourne
- Prof Daniel Little - Knowlab (MSPS), The University of Melbourne
- Prof Gary McPherson - Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne
- Prof Terence O'Brien - Alfred Brain, Alfred Health
- Prof Isabelle Peretz - BRAMS, The University of Montreal
- Prof Ingrid Scheffer - Collaborative Autism Study, The University of Melbourne
- Dr Joanne Wrench - Psychology, Austin Health
Affiliations
- Alfred Brain (Alfred Health)
- Australian Music & Psychology Society
- BRAMS - International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (The University of Montreal)
- Clinical Outcomes Research Unit - CoRE (Royal Melbourne Hospital)
- Department of Neuropsychology (Austin Health)
- The Collaborative Autism Study (The University of Melbourne)
- The Epilepsy Research Centre (The University of Melbourne)
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
- The International League Against Epilepsy
- The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (The University of Melbourne)
- Music, Mind and Wellbeing (The University of Melbourne)
- MP3 Lab (University of Melbourne)
Browse our current projects by theme
Current Projects
2025
- Sarah Wilson and Daniel Yeom appeared on Australia's Most Identical on Channel 9. Sarah features as an expert for the show, while Daniel features as a guest in Episode 2.
- Daniel Yeom spoke with Body + Soul magazine about how music can boost our energy levels.
2024
- Sarah Wilson spoke on the Ablequest program on Sydney's 2RPH radio, to talk about how music and singing can enhance brain function and facilitate neurological recovery.
2023
- Sarah Wilson appeared on an episode of House of Wellness on Channel 7, talking about the impact music has on the brain.
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed in an Explainer article in the Sydney Morning Herald/The Age about the genetics of singing.
- Daniel Yeom was interviewed in an article for the Sydney Morning Herald/The Age's Examine series about the genetics of singing. He was also interviewed on ABC Radio Perth.
2022
- Daniel Yeom spoke with Costco Connection (Sep-Oct) about the benefits of music on the brain.
2021
- Sarah Wilson provided expert commentary for a feature by Seven News on the emotional effects of music in relation to the global success of the song "Love Tonight" by David Guetta and Shouse.
- Sarah Wilson participated in a panel discussion on the psychological impact of COVID-19 for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Science Perspectives symposium hosted by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (Sept)
- Sarah Wilson was featured in an article by The Brag Media entitled "Science shows live music improves brain development, mental health and the economy" (July)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed for an episode of the University of Melbourne's Eavesdrop on Experts podcast on the importance of social connection for mental health and wellbeing (June)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed on an episode of ABC Radio Adelaide Nightlife about the joy of singing and the science behind it (Feb)
2020
- Sarah Wilson was featured in a news release for her election as Fellow of the Academy of Sciences in Australia (Nov)
- Sarah Wilson was Interviewed by Allan Tait (Chief Operating Officer, The University of Melbourne) for two episodes of the In Conversation With series where she provided tips for managing mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown. Watch the interviews here: Aug interview; Oct interview
- Genevieve Rayner was interviewed for expert comment on an article in The New Yorker around paradoxical patterns of patient adjustment to seizure freedom following the insertion of a NeuroVista seizure detection device.
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed on a number of radio programs:
- Joy Drive FM - benefits of music for mental health (Oct)
- ABC Radio 774's Breakfast Show - why we like to listen to sad music (Oct)
- ABC Radio Melbourne - positive effects of singing on social interaction and emotional regulation (Jul)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed by Dr Andi Horvath for the Eavesdrop on Experts podcast (The University of Melbourne) entitled "The Brain Benefits of Music" (Sept)
- Genevieve Rayner was interviewed for expert comment on an article in ABC News regarding research on the structural neurological changes linked to affective disorders in anxiety and depression (Aug)
- Laura Bird was interviewed on an episode of the Welcome to My Nerd Brain podcast, hosted by Emily Fransen in the U.S.A. (Jul)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed for an article in BBC Future about the positive effects of singing on stress (May)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed for an article in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald titled "Waves, rains and chirping birds: How ambient sounds help to relieve anxiety" (May)
- Sarah Wilson was interview for a news article in The Age titled "Victoria enters 'new normal' in pandemic response" (Mar)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed by Prof Sharon Lewin from The Doherty Institute about the community response to COVID-19 (Mar)
- Sarah Wilson participated in a panel discussion at The Doherty Institute hosted by the Dean of the MDHS (The University of Melbourne), Prof Shitij Kapur, regarding the COVID-19 response (Mar)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed for an article in ABC News titled "How your brain disentangles words and melody from a single line of song" (Feb)
- Laura Bird was interviewed on 3RRR FM's Einstein-A-Go-Go program (Feb)
2019
- Laura Bird participated in the 3RRR FM's Einstein-A-Go-Go program’s #20phds20mins radio interview, hosted by Dr Shane Huntington (Dec)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed for 3MBS Reflections (radio) about how music can enhance brain function as well as facilitate recovery after brain injury (Aug)
- Genevieve Rayner was invited to provide expert comments on an article by Michael Broder on MedPage Today regarding the significance of cognitive dysfunction after the remission of major depressive episodes
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed by Alicia Bigica for an article in Neurology Live titled '"Improvements in psychosocial factors, quaity of life key to epilepsy surgery satisfaction" (June)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed by Nancy Volkers for a podcast about the Burden of Normality hosted by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) at the 33rd International Epilepsy Congress (June)
2018
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed for Breakfast with Matt Tribe - ABC Mildura-Swan Hill (radio) about ‘earworms’ and why a catchy piece of music continually repeats through a person’s mind (Nov)
- Sarah Wilson was interviewed about the neuroscience of music by Vanessa Hughes for ABC Classic FM as part of National Science Week (Aug)
- Sarah Wilson was featured on ABC's National Science Week: Meet Our Guests to discuss these questions and more: What happens to the brain when we hear music? Why does it feel so good? How does it help our brain?
- Sarah Wilson was featured on several media releases about a world-first, ARC-funded study on the genetic basis of singing ability (Apr):
- 6PR Radio (Perth) - "Were you born with golden tonsils?"
- Channel 9 News - interviewed by Alicia Loxley
- Channel 10 News - "Singing twins help tune in on musicality"
- Channel 7 News - "World-first study into singing"
- SBS News - "Australian study tunes in on singing twins"
Participate in our research today!
We don't have any studies running in the lab right now. However, check back here every so often to see if we have any new studies running!
Contact the lab
To contact the lab for all general enquiries, including supervision and media enquiries: