78+ ​Programs on Music-Brain-Health-Mental Health-Neuro rehabilitation and counting!

​The Music Cognition Lab actively engages with academic, clinical, policy, and public audiences to translate research on music, brain, and mental health into practice. Below is a curated record of invited lectures, keynote addresses, public talks, workshops, and media engagements led by the lab.

2025

1. ‘Research in the area of music-mental health’ Transdisciplinary strategies of optimising brain health globally. Global Brain Health Institute and NIMHANS meeting. 14th April 2025
2. ‘Understanding brain-body-behaviour connection through understanding disconnection syndromes’ -Mapping Brain-Body-Behavior Signal Dynamics in Human Speech Production and Interaction ICASSP 2025 Satellite Workshop (Keynote speaker)
3. Neuropsychological Sequalae of Diabetes. ET-Edge National Diabetes Summit. For general public and medical professionals 22nd March 2025. ET Edge and Times Now Group.

2023

1. Hegde S. Why study music and rhythm perception in schizophrenia: Clinical Applications. Massachusetts Mental Health Center- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts Mental Health Center Lab Round Presentations, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 11th May 2023
2. Hegde S. Feel the beat-Musical Rhythm and the Brain Neuroscience Seminar Series School of Arts & Sciences_Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, USA 20th July 2023 Invited Lecture (Invited talk)
3. Hegde S. Music Rhythm and Brain:  A New Perspective in Understanding Neuropsychiatric Conditions, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 28th September 2023. Grand Rounds Presentation
4. Hegde S. Near and Far Transfer: Impact of Musical Training on Neurocognitive Functions in Children. Annual Conference of British Carnatic Choir. 15th December 2023. (Invited Talk-Online”)

2021

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1. ‘Research studies on music and neuropsychology: Indian perspective’. Meeting organized by the International Association for Music and Medicine (IAMM) Global Café - South Asia Spotlight (https://iammonline.com/globalcafe-southasia/) 2 June 2021. (Online)
2. "She is Resolute-conversations on grit and growth'- podcast for the personal development and empowerment of the mindset of Indian women. Hosted by Ms. Suvarna Mondal. 24 April 2021 (General public) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtsgNkBDuSA)
3. Invited member for the Symposium on ‘Well Being through Art, Spirituality and Philanthropy’ organized by the Department of Mind Body Medicine and Lifestyle Sciences, Faculty of Allied Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 25 April 2021 (Online)
4. "Science of Music and Music of Science". India Science Festival-2021- India's largest celebration of science and technology on 24th January 2021 . (Online) https://www.indiasciencefest.org/
5. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation beyond Neurocognition. NeuroFemIndia2021. 9-13 April 2021. Organised by biaswatch India along with IndSciComm and Alba Network. (https://biaswatchindia.com/neurofemindia2021/)
   (Online) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO43pcpmWak&t=9360s)
6. Music Brain and Positive Mental Health. Never Alone Global Mental Health Summit to promote mental health globally during COVID-19 Pandemic. Organized by The Chopra Foundation, The Hinduja Foundation, Alchemic Sonic Environment. https://neveralonesummit.live/ (Featured along with eminent speakers from all over the globe such as Dr. Deepak Chopra, Shri Sadhguru, Dr Vikram Patel, Dr. Shekar Saxena to name a few) – (https://neveralonesummit.live/never-alone-summit-2021/spotlight-india-speakers/)
7. Music Based intervention in Parkinson's disease Parkinson's day 2021 organized by the NIMHANS Parkinson's disease and movement disorders subspecialty & Parkinson's disease society of Karnataka 11 April 2021 (For patients with Parkinson’s disease, caregivers and general public) – online.
8. Symposium on ‘Building Sustainable Global Collaborative Research Networks’ March 15th- Max Plank -NYU center for Language, Music and Emotion (CLaME), New York, USA. on 7th February 2021
9. “Neuropsychology and Neuromusicology- A basic introduction” Department of Applied Psychology, Ramanujan College, University of Delhi. 29th January 2021 (Invited guest lecture)
10. ‘Music-healthy Mind-Connection’ Mindful Music Listening to Target Stress. For all employees of Infosys Pvt Ltd. 17th June 2021 (Online)
11. "Music as a tool for stress relief in covid times" as part of the YOGA KSHEMA series. For all employees of the State Bank of India 24th June 2021 (Online)
12. Stress and Human Brain- What can we learn from the principles of Indian Traditions and India Psychology’ Vishwapaavana Gurukulam, Bengaluru. 13th September 2021 (Online)

2019

1. “The diverse Music Brain’ workshop series entitled ‘The Diverse, Music Brain’ by the Institute for Music in Human and Social Development, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 23rd April 2019 (Invited speaker)
2. ‘Music and Neural Plasticity’ 2019 Annual Fellows meeting. Wellcome Trust-India Alliance DBT, Bengaluru 13th June 2019.
3. "Why study music from a neuroscientific perspective?": Implications to Mental Health Research’ Department of Psychiatry and the Massachusetts Mental Health Center (MMHC) Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical Center Boston, MA, USA 16th August 2019 (Invited Lecture)
4. ‘Music as a biological phenomenon: A Neuroscience Perspective?’ at the Spectrum Series- Guest lectures organized by the Genesis (an academic society of the Department of Molecular Reproduction, Genetics and Development. Biological Sciences Division, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.18th October 2019 (Invited lecture)
5. ‘Clinical Neuropsychology and Neuromusicology’ Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies Solandevanahalli, Bengaluru 15th October 2019 (Invited lecture)
6. ‘Why and how music therapy works: From a neuroscientific perspective: Research in India- Current Status and future directions’ Naadamanthana Conference- Scientific Approach to Indian Music Therapy Organised by the Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan and Manollasini Trust, at Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan 7-8th December 2019 (Invited Lecture)

2016

1. 'Neuropsychology and Neuropsychological Rehablitation: An overview'. Clinical Psychology: Promoting Mental Health, Orientation Programme for Postgraduate Students of Psychology, February 5-6, 2016, Seminar Hall, Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, 5-6th February 2016.
2. Music and Brain. Technology Entertainment and Design TED (USA). Independently organized by National Institute of Technology, Suratkal, Karnataka (TEDx). 18 September 2016 (Invited talk)
3. Music and Mental Health, ‘Expressions’ Moving Minds 2016 organized by the White Swan Foundation General Public, 15th October 2016, Bangalore

2015

1. Neuromusicology and its contribution to Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. Bangalore Research and Interest in Neuropsychology (BRAIN) group meeting held at the Annasawmy Mudaliar General Hospital on 1st of March 2015​
2. 'Meeting of science & art: Neuroscience of Music Therapy''. Swarohan in collaboration with Hamsakutira (Socio-cultrual Public Trust working serving the public through Music), Bengaluru. 5- September 2015 (Invited Resource Person)
3. 'Music and the Brain-Neuroscientific Perspective on Music Therapy'. IV National Seminar on Music Therapy. Sur Sanjeevan Music Therapy Forum, Dinanath Mageshkar Hospital and Research Center, Pune. 23- August 2015. (Invited Resource Person)
4. 'Music and Mental Health' Celebrating the Work Mental Health Day. The Richmond Fellowship Society (India), at Chetana Center, Bengaluru, 16- October 2015. (Invited Resource Person)
5. Music and the Brain-Neuroscientific Perspective on Music Therapy. IV National Seminar on Music Therapy. Sur Sanjeevan Music Therapy Forum, Dinanath Mageshkar Hospital and Research Center, Pune. 23rd August 2015.
6. Meeting of science & art: Neuroscience of Music Therapy. Swarohan in collaboration with Hamsakutira (Socio-cultrual Public Trust working serving the public through Music), Bengaluru. 5th September 2015 

2011

1. The Musical Brain, Bell Engineering Center, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, August 17, 2011.
2. Music Cognition: What has Indian Classical Music got to contribute.  LEAD - CNRS, University of  Bourgogne, Dijon, France, September 22, 2011.

2009

1. Music cognition Research: An Overview: At the ‘Music technology Awareness / Appreciation’, Workshop, PES Institute Of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, December 5, 2009

2000

1. Music and Psychology- Seminar- Department of Psychology, Bengaluru University

2024

1. ‘Music and Emotion’. 6th Bangalore Cognition Workshop - BCW 2024- Emotion Motivation and Cognitive Control.  Centre for Neuroscience, IISc Bengaluru 19th June 2024
2. “Art and Health” . World Women in Neuroscience (online). Talking Circle- 30 October 2024
3. Mental Health Issues in performing Artists. Podcast- MARS Entertainment Performing Artists and general public (18th May 2024)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL5_ePtwzw0
4. Empathy: Understanding the Neural basis and its applications in everyday life. How does engaging with music enhances mental well being for the elderly people. Vayomanasa Sanjeevani- online Healthy Ageing Awareness Talk Series Geriatric Unit Department of Psychiatry (Target audience- general public). 1st April 2024
5. Trust Conclave IIM Bangalore. 100 senior business leaders 6th July 2024, IIM Bengaluru
6. Benefits of Music and Education on brain development.  Laya Laasya Habba. Students of Music, dance and general public. 17th August 2024. JSS Auditorium
7. Along with the Indian Music Experience Museum and Collabera Digital - an interactive game developed. Tune-Tales aims to help children use music as a self-help tool for emotional regulation, and uses storytelling and fun challenges to demonstrate the significant relationship between music and their emotions. The target audience is rural children of the ages 8-16 - a population whose access to mental health care is very limited. This will be part of a rural-bus project spearheaded by the IME museum in collaboration with Music Cognition lab, NIMHANS. (2024 October)

2022

1. Hegde S.  Neurocognitive deficits and how to repair it? Role of Music in Neuropsychological rehabilitation. Women in Music Information Retrieval. Satellite Workshop of (International Society for Music Information Retrieval) ISMIR November 29th 2022
2. Music Rhythm and Parkinson’s Disease. Bengaluru Science Festival 2022. Organised by the Science Gallery Bengaluru. 10th April 2022
3. ‘Music and Mental Wellness: Benefits of engaging with music’ Mythri FACEMI (Families AllianCE on Mental Illness), Bangalore 22nd January 2022 

2020

1. An overview of Neuromusicology Understanding Human Brain via music. NeuroNov Convention2020. NeuroNovember is a collaborative youth-led initiative, jointly organized by Project Encephalon and Stimulus. (https://www.neuronov.org/) (Invited speaker) 21, 22, 28, 29 November 2020
2. Understanding Musical Intelligence. Program on Multiple Intelligences, Savant Skills and Alternative learning- World Autism Month. Webinar organized by Buddhi Clinic, Chennai 11 April 2020
3. Psychosocial Advisory in Kannada. Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists. Short video for general public. 16th April 2020. Published on e-media. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHX7kZyt0gk)
4. Music and Mental Health during COVID-19 pandemic. Mental Health Warrior- Short video. 16th April 2020. Mental Health Education Department, NIMHANS. Bengaluru. Published on e-media (https://twitter.com/i/status/1251512357689294853)
5. Stress Anxiety and the Brain. Handling Stress and Anxiety during the uncertain times. Series of Four lectures of 2.5 hours and Q & A session. II PUC students (800 students who are waiting to write IIT Entrance Exams, 650 Students appearing for NEET and around 2500 students appearing for Karnataka CET exams 3000 students who are currently studying in 2nd year PUC. BASE Educational Services Pvt. Ltd. Basavanagudi, Bengaluru-560004 (27th and 28th June 2020; 3rd and 4th July 2020)
6. Music and its effect on Brain and mental health National Brain Week 2020 -Indian Academy of Neurology 
7. Music for the ageing brain: need for scientific inquiry. SPECTRUM Indian Culture Connecting Communities. Sri Aurobindo Society, JP Nagar. Sri Aurobindo Complex, 1st Phase, JP Nagar 25 January 2020 (For general public)
8. ‘Musical notes to neural plasticity’ CogniTalks2020, Centre for Cognitive and Brain Science IIT Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 7th Feb 2020 (Invited Lecture)
9. ‘Is Musical Training Important for Brain Development?’ Fifth International Conference on Music and Dance (ICMD) and Sixteenth Annual Music and Dance Festival Scheduled Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha, Purandara Bhavana, Indiranagar, Bengluru, 3-8th January 2020 (Invited Lecture)
10. Music  Neuroscience and Neurologic Music Therapy in Neurorehabilitation Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) (University of Portugal, Lisbon) - (Invited lecture)- Webinar 16 May 2020
11. A case for Art Education Benefits and Impact from a Neuroscientific Perspective (Invited Talk)  Art Education: Benefits and Impact - International Webinar The Center for Soft Power 2 April 2020
12. A four series session on Music and Health. DigiNxtHlt- A Digital Healthcare company. December 2020.
13. BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK ‘Beat goes on! ‘Rhythm and the Human Brain Invited Lecture. Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (Institute of Behavioural Sciences) with the Indian Institute of Technology (Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences)  funded by  Dana Foundation and International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) 25 May 2020 

2018

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1. Music and Neural Plasticity. Neuroscience Seminar. PES Institute of Technology, Bengaluru. 18 August 2018
2. Music as Langauge and Vice versa: Overlapping Neural Correlates of Music and Language with implication for science, policy and society at National Institute of Advance Studies, IISC campus, during the programme for Science for Policy Makers. Bengaluru. 3 October 2018 (Resource Person)
3. Benefits of musical engagement in Elderly. Health talk for the elderly. KEB Engineers Silver Jubilee Bhavan, Bengaluru. 12 August 2018. (lecture of general public, especially elderly)
4. Music on Brain and Health Yoga and Health -Rathasapthami  Celebration, General public 24th Jan 2018, Om Yoga group, BTM Layout, Bangalore

2017

1. Research on Music and Brain. Science Program for Buddhist Monks. Buddhist Monastery, Bylakuppe, 11-12 April 2017 (Resource Person)
2. Music and Neuroscience: The emerging field. School of Liberal Studies, Azim Permji University, Bangalore, 4 April 2017
3. Neurologic Music Therapy in Traumatic Brain Injury. National Seminar on Music, Innovations and Medical Imaging, NIMHANS convention Center. 1 October 2017
4. Paranjpe A. The Effects of Mantras on Cognition and Emotion in Traumatic Brain Injury: An exploratory study. Consultative Meet on Applications of Indian Concepts of Mental Health. 5 September 2017
5. Music Cognition and Neurologic Music Therapy and its clinical application in geriatric conditions. World Alzheimer’s day celebration. Sri Devaraj Urs medical College, Kolar. 23 September 2017
6. Indian Classical Music- from the present Psychological Perspective YUVA- National Conference on Exploring the Brilliance of India organized by Sri Aurobindo Kapali Sastry Institute of Vedic Culture Public 28-08-2017
7. Music and Wellness for Women Caregivers. Nurturing Mental Health of Women Caregivers – International Women’s day celebration organized by Department of Psychiatric Social Work  Women caregivers of patients with mental illness, 8th March 2017 NIMHANS, Bangalore
   
8. Music and Neuroscience: Need for scientific investigations in music therapy. Dhanvantri Program by organized by Bharatiya Samagana Sabha. Musicians and General public 16-18 February 2017 Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore

2013

1. 'Music & Cognition' The Mind Science- 10th Youth Interfaith Pilgrimage program 2013, Foundation for Universal Responsibility of his Holiness the Dalai Lama. NIMHANS, Bangalore. 8th August 2013.
2. Neuromusicology: Its contribution to evidenced based Music Therapy. Nadamanthana- Workshop on Music Therapy- by Manollasini(R) Meera Center for Music Therapy & Research, Bangalore. 15th September 2013.

2012

1. Note on Musical Emotion' Sympotein X: Music and the Brain. National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore, 12th February, 2012.​

2010

1. Effect of music on the pleasure centers of the brain, Science talk section. All India Radio, March 2010.​

2006

1. Music –Emerging Psychological Perspectives. Seminar presented in Department of Mental Health & Social Psychology, NIMHANS December 12th 2006.