Musicology

The course will provide an overview of the mental, behavioral, neurobiological and physiological processes that allow human beings to produce, process and enjoy music. In general, the course will feature an empirical, experimental and quantitative approach. Beyond a brief introduction to 'General Psychology', topics will targeted to the ‘LM in Musicologia’, with emphasis on the 'Psychology of Music'. Teaching will develop along four main strands. The first strand will feature an overview of those topics in experimental psychology relevant to students of the ‘LM in Musicologia’, namely: attention, perception, learning, memory, language, non-verbal communication, emotions, relationship between brain and behavior. The second strand will focus on the psychology and neuroscience of sound perception and production, with particular attention to the empirical-experimental method and the quantitative approach to research. The third strand will discuss the relationship between music, mind and brain, focusing on: 1) music perception and production in humans, 2) movement and synchronization, 3) the neurocognitive bases of musicality, in human development and potentially in other species, and 4) what physiology and medicine can tell us about what makes us 'musical animals'. The fourth strand will introduce some methods and techniques from experimental psychology (e.g., measuring reaction times), also via practical sessions. This strand aims at providing students with tools to both formulate and test empirical hypotheses in the psychology of music.

Students should be interested in both music and psychology. They should have some basic knowledge of how music and/or related systems work.

The final choice of textbooks will be discussed with students. Course content will span the following textbooks, with special focus on the first and second book from the list: • Sacks, Oliver (2014). Musicofilia. Adelphi Edizioni. • Ravignani, Andrea, Brattico, Elvira, Surian, Alessio (2025) Psicologia della musica. Laterza. • Mecacci, Luciano. (2011) Fondamenti di psicologia. Laterza. • Tomassoni, Rosella, Eugenia Treglia, and Monica Alina Lungu. Lineamenti di Psicologia Generale. Teseo Editore, 2019. • P. Legrenzi, A. Jacomuzzi. (2021) Fondamenti di psicologia generale. Il Mulino. • Patel, A. (2014) La musica, il linguaggio e il cervello. Giovanni Fioriti Editore. • Schön, D., (2018) Il cervello musicale. Il Mulino. • Schön, D., Akiva-Kabiri, L., Vecchi, T. (2018, prima ed. 2007) Psicologia della musica. Carocci, Roma.

Compulsory

Written exam. Depending on the class size, students might be asked to split into groups, and read and report about recent research papers. This group work will be factored into the final grade.

• Sacks, Oliver (2014). Musicofilia. Adelphi Edizioni. • Ravignani, Andrea, Brattico, Elvira, Surian, Alessio (2025) Psicologia della musica. Laterza.

In-person teaching/attendance