I joined the University of Bergen in 2015 as Professor of Biological, Medical and Music Psychology through the national Toppforsk programme. My training spans psychology, sociology and music performance, with a PhD and Habilitation from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences and postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School. Before Bergen I held professorships at the University of Sussex and the Free University of Berlin’s “Languages of Emotion” cluster.

My research uses music as a model system to explore fundamental principles of human cognition and emotion and their underlying brain mechanisms. We map how the brain processes musical structure and how music influences emotional networks, integrating methods from neuroscience, psychology, neurology and psychiatry. Our group also translates these insights into practice, for example through the Alzheimer’s and Music Therapy (ALMUTH) trial, which evaluates music and physical activity interventions for people with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment and subjective cognitive decline. Other projects explore music’s role in pain reduction, stress modulation, substance use disorders and Parkinson’s disease.

Theoretically, we contribute to debates on the brain as a prediction engine. By studying how musical tension and release shape expectations and reward, we collaborate with colleagues such as Karl Friston to understand how the brain updates internal models. I have authored several books for both scientific and general audiences, including Brain and Music, Good Vibrations and Die dunkle Seite des Gehirns, and I am committed to public engagement. 

My work has contributed to establishing a new scientific framework for understanding music's profound effects on the human brain, articulated in publications in journals such as Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Neuron, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, and Nature Neuroscience.  

Our Brain and Music Group welcomes enquiries from students and collaborators interested in the neuroscience of music, emotion and health. 

If you are interested in doing a B.Sc. or M.Sc. thesis in my group please click on the tab to the right. 

More on his research group

 

Popular science books

Good Vibrations: Unlocking the Healing Power of Music (Cambridge University Press, 2025) summarises the latest science on how music shapes our brains, emotions and health, with practical guidance for everyday life. A Norwegian edition, Gode Vibrasjoner, is also available, as well as the German edition Good Vibrations: Die heilende Kraft der Musik, and translations in several other languages. Die dunkle Seite des Gehirns (2022) explores how unconscious processes influence our thoughts and offers strategies for overcoming negative patterns. 

Talks, podcasts and media

I regularly discuss music and health in lectures, media interviews and podcasts. Recent highlights include Inside a musician's brain, a Bergen Philharmonic session with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, an appearance in the NRK TV series Demenskoret, as well as interviews for NRK radio and Norwegian newspapers. 

Below is a selection of podcast appearances over the past 3 years. 

• The New Science of Music as Medicine

  Apple Podcasts – Conversation about Good Vibrations and evidence for music’s therapeutic effects.

• Wie uns Musik hilft, gesünder und glücklicher zu leben (Podcast)

  SPIEGEL Gesundheit – How music supports well-being and health.

• Musik und mentale Gesundheit

  ZDFheute – Feature on music’s benefits for mental health.

• Musik & Gesundheit (Interview)

  ARD Audiothek – Public radio conversation on therapeutic mechanisms.

• Musik als Lebensretter – Auszeit für das Gehirn

  Deutschlandfunk Kultur – On recovery, stress regulation and music.

• Musik und Fragen zur Person

  Deutschlandfunk – Long-form interview on biography and research.

• Music’s healing mechanisms

  Spotify – Discussion of neural and physiological pathways.

• Negative Gedanken: Wie wir das Unterbewusstsein überlisten

  Antenne / SPIEGEL – Practical strategies for everyday mental health.

• Stress durch Gedanken – warum Abschalten wichtig ist

  RTL+ Podcast – How to regulate stress and rumination.

• Neustart: Musik hören beim Lernen

  detektor.fm – When (and when not) music helps learning.

• MDR KLASSIK Gespräch

  MDR KLASSIK – Music, longevity and health.

• hr2 Doppelkopf – Musik kann therapeutisch genutzt werden

  hr2 kultur – Interview on clinical and everyday applications.

• Music, Brain & Health

  YouTube – Public lecture / interview highlights.

• Music & Emotion – mechanisms

  YouTube – Overview of emotional processing of music.

• Music, health and the brain

  YouTube – Interview on practical impacts of music on health.

• Music, language & the brain

  YouTube – Conversation on shared and distinct brain mechanisms.

• SR Mediathek Feature

  Saarländischer Rundfunk – Regional radio piece on music & health.

• UNSERDING Mediathek

  SR / UNSERDING – Youth-oriented discussion of music and mood.

• Mensch, Musiker – Interview

  podcast.de – Career path, research and practice.

• Mensch, Musiker (Podigee)

  Podigee – Episode page / alternate feed.

• Megahertz – Interview

  Podigee – Technology, creativity and emotion in music.

• Wie wirkt Musik heilsam?

  podcast.de – What happens in brain and body during music.

• Die heilsame Kraft der Musik

  Apple Podcasts – German-language discussion of music’s healing power.

• Straßenkritik: Good Vibrations

  Deutschlandfunk Kultur – Street review of the book.

• SR2 Podcast

  SR2 – Feature/podcast on music and health.

• turi2 Hörtipp

  turi2 – Media pointer to interview on music and wellbeing.

• Snipd: Appearance index

  Snipd – Collection of podcast highlights and bookmarks.

• IMDb entry

  IMDb – Indexed media appearance.

Academic literature review

• Kölsch, Stefan; Bradt, Joke (2025). A neuroscientific perspective on pain-reducing effects of music: Implications for music therapy and mental well-being. (external link)
• Matziorinis, Anna Maria; Koelsch, Stefan (2022). The promise of music therapy for Alzheimer's disease: A review. (external link)
• Menninghaus, Winfried; Wagner, Valentin; Wassiliwizky, Eugen et al. (2019). What are aesthetic emotions?. (external link)
• Kölsch, Stefan; Vuust, Peter; Friston, Karl (2019). Predictive processes and the peculiar case of music. (external link)
• Menninghaus, Winfried; Wagner, Valentin; Hanich, Julian et al. (2017). Negative emotions in art reception: Refining theoretical assumptions and adding variables to the distancing-embracing model. (external link)
• Hohmann, Louisa; Bradt, Joke; Stegemann, Thomas et al. (2017). Effects of music therapy and music-based interventions in the treatment of substance use disorders: A systematic review. (external link)

Academic article

• Matziorinis, Anna Maria; Leemans, Alexander; Skouras, Stavros et al. (2024). The effects of musicality on brain network topology in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and memory decline. (external link)
• Cheung, Vincent K. M.; Harrison, Peter M. C.; Koelsch, Stefan et al. (2024). Cognitive and sensory expectations independently shape musical expectancy and pleasure. (external link)
• Werner, Lucy Madeleine; Skouras, Stavros; Bechtold, Laura et al. (2023). Sensorimotor synchronization to music reduces pain. (external link)
• Daikoku, Tatsuya; Jentschke, Sebastian; Tsogli, Vera et al. (2023). Neural correlates of statistical learning in developmental dyslexia: An electroencephalography study. (external link)
• Matziorinis, Anna Maria; Flo, Birthe Kristin; Skouras, Stavros et al. (2023). A 12-month randomised pilot trial of the Alzheimer’s and music therapy study: a feasibility assessment of music therapy and physical activity in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Andrews-Hanna, Jessica R.; Skouras, Stavros (2022). Tormenting thoughts: The posterior cingulate sulcus of the default mode network regulates valence of thoughts and activity in the brain's pain network during music listening. (external link)
• Matziorinis, Anna Maria; Gaser, Christian; Koelsch, Stefan (2022). Is musical engagement enough to keep the brain young?. (external link)
• Flo, Birthe Kristin; Matziorinis, Anna Maria; Skouras, Stavros et al. (2022). Study protocol for the Alzheimer and music therapy study: An RCT to compare the efficacy of music therapy and physical activity on brain plasticity, depressive symptoms, and cognitive decline, in a population with and at risk for Alzheimer's disease. (external link)
• Tsogli, Vera; Skouras, Stavros; Koelsch, Stefan (2022). Brain-correlates of processing local dependencies within a statistical learning paradigm. (external link)
• Tsogli, Vera; Jentschke, Sebastian; Koelsch, Stefan (2022). Unpredictability of the “when” influences prediction error processing of the “what” and “where”. (external link)
• Taruffi, Liila; Skouras, Stavros; Pehrs, Corinna et al. (2021). Trait Empathy Shapes Neural Responses Toward Sad Music. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Cheung, Vincent K. M.; Jentschke, Sebastian et al. (2021). Neocortical substrates of feelings evoked with music in the ACC, insula, and somatosensory cortex. (external link)
• Koenig, Julian; Abler, Birgit; Agartz, Ingrid et al. (2020). Cortical thickness and resting‐state cardiac function across the lifespan: A cross‐sectional pooled mega‐analysis. (external link)
• Kölsch, Stefan (2020). A coordinate-based meta-analysis of music-evoked emotions. (external link)
• Menninghaus, Winfried; Schindler, Ines; Wassiliwizky, Eugen et al. (2020). REPLY: Aesthetic Emotions Are a Key Factor in Aesthetic Evaluation: Reply to Skov and Nadal (2020). (external link)
• Orini, Michele; Al-Amodi, Faez; Kölsch, Stefan et al. (2019). The Effect of Emotional Valence on Ventricular Repolarization Dynamics Is Mediated by Heart Rate Variability: A Study of QT Variability and Music-Induced Emotions. (external link)
• Cheung, Vincent K.M.; Harrison, Peter M.C.; Meyer, Lars et al. (2019). Uncertainty and surprise jointly predict musical pleasure and amygdala, hippocampus, and auditory cortex activity. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Bashevkin, Tobias; Kristensen, Joakim et al. (2019). Heroic music stimulates empowering thoughts during mind-wandering. (external link)
• Tsogli, Barbara; Jentschke, Sebastian; Daikoku, Tatsuya et al. (2019). When the statistical MMN meets the physical MMN. (external link)
• Kölsch, Stefan (2018). Identifying Emotional Specificity in Complex Large-Scale Brain Networks. (external link)
• Cheung, Vincent K.M.; Meyer, Lars; Friederici, Angela D. et al. (2018). The right inferior frontal gyrus processes nested non-local dependencies in music. (external link)
• Kölsch, Stefan; Skouras, Stavros; Lohmann, Gabriele (2018). The auditory cortex hosts network nodes influential for emotion processing: An fMRI study on music-evoked fear and joy. (external link)
• Pehrs, Corinna; Zaki, Jamil; Taruffi, Liila et al. (2018). Hippocampal-Temporopolar Connectivity Contributes to Episodic Simulation during Social Cognition. (external link)
• Taruffi, Liila; Pehrs, Corinna; Skouras, Stavros et al. (2017). Effects of Sad and Happy Music on Mind-Wandering and the Default Mode Network. (external link)
• DePriest, John; Glushko, Anastasia; Steinhauer, Karsten et al. (2017). Language and music phrase boundary processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An ERP study. (external link)
• Wassiliwizky, Eugen; Kölsch, Stefan; Wagner, Valentin et al. (2017). The emotional power of poetry: Neural circuitry, psychophysiology and compositional principles. (external link)
• Pehrs, Corinna; Zaki, Jamil; Schlochtermeier, Lorna H. et al. (2017). The Temporal Pole Top-Down Modulates the Ventral Visual Stream during Social Cognition. (external link)
• Menninghaus, Winfried; Wagner, Valentin; Hanich, Julian et al. (2017). The Distancing-Embracing model of the enjoyment of negative emotions in art reception. (external link)
• Cerruto, Giuliano; Mainardi, Luca; Koelsch, Stefan et al. (2017). The periodic repolarization dynamics index identifies changes in ventricular repolarization oscillations associated with music-induced emotions. (external link)
• Glushko, Anastasia; Steinhauer, Karsten; DePriest, John et al. (2016). Neurophysiological correlates of musical and prosodic phrasing: Shared processing mechanisms and effects of musical expertise. (external link)
• Kölsch, Stefan; Böhlig, Albrecht; Hohenadel, Maximilian et al. (2016). The impact of acute stress on hormones and cytokines, and how their recovery is affected by music-evoked positive mood. (external link)
• Kölsch, Stefan; Busch, Tobias; Jentschke, Sebastian et al. (2016). Under the hood of statistical learning: A statistical MMN reflects the magnitude of transitional probabilities in auditory sequences. (external link)
• Jentschke, Sebastian; Friederici, Angela D.; Koelsch, Stefan (2014). Neural correlates of music-syntactic processing in two-year old children. (external link)
• Aust, Sabine; Stasch, Joanna; Jentschke, Sebastian et al. (2014). Differential effects of early life stress on hippocampus and amygdala volume as a function of emotional abilities. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Skouras, Stavros; Jentschke, Sebastian (2013). Neural correlates of emotional personality: a structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging study. (external link)
• Fritz, Thomas; Schmude, Paul; Jentschke, Sebastian et al. (2013). From Understanding to Appreciating Music Cross-Culturally. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Enge, Juliane; Jentschke, Sebastian (2012). Cardiac signatures of personality. (external link)
• Jentschke, Sebastian; Koelsch, Stefan (2011). Neurokognition von Musik und Sprache [Neurocognition of music and language]. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Jentschke, Sebastian (2010). Differences in Electric Brain Responses to Melodies and Chords. (external link)
• Jentschke, Sebastian; Koelsch, Stefan (2009). Musical training modulates the development of syntax processing in children. (external link)
• Fritz, Thomas; Jentschke, Sebastian; Gosselin, Nathalie et al. (2009). Universal Recognition of Three Basic Emotions in Music. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Sammler, Daniela; Jentschke, Sebastian et al. (2008). EEG correlates of moderate intermittent explosive disorder. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Jentschke, Sebastian (2008). Short-term effects of processing musical syntax: An ERP study. (external link)
• Jentschke, Sebastian; Kölsch, Stefan; Sallat, Stephan et al. (2008). Processing of musical syntax in children with and without Specific Language Impairment. (external link)
• Koelsch, Stefan; Remppis, A; Sammler, Daniela et al. (2007). A cardiac signature of emotionality. (external link)
• Kölsch, Stefan; Jentschke, Sebastian; Sammler, Daniela et al. (2007). Untangling syntactic and sensory processing: An ERP study of music perception. (external link)
• Jentschke, Sebastian; Koelsch, Stefan (2006). Gehirn, Musik, Plastizität und Entwicklung [Brain, Music, Plasticity, and Development]. (external link)
• Jentschke, Sebastian; Koelsch, Stefan; Friederici, Angela D. (2005). Neural Correlates of Processing Structure in Music and Language – Influences of Musical Training and Language Impairment. (external link)

Article in business/trade/industry journal

• Koelsch, Stefan; Kölsch, Stefan; Cheung, Vincent K.M. et al. (2019). Uncertainty and Surprise Jointly Predict Musical Pleasure and Amygdala, Hippocampus, and Auditory Cortex Activity. (external link)

Errata

• Tsogli, Vera; Jentschke, Sebastian; Daikoku, Tatsuya et al. (2019). Author Correction: When the statistical MMN meets the physical MMN (Scientific Reports, (2019), 9, 1, (5563), 10.1038/s41598-019-42066-4). (external link)

Poster

• Daikoku, Tatsuya; Jentschke, Sebastian; Tsogli, Barbara et al. (2019). Statistical learning in the developing brain. (external link)

Academic lecture

• Jentschke, Sebastian; Daikoku, Tatsuya; Tsogli, Barbara et al. (2019). Statistical learning in the developing brain: Towards early diagnosis of impaired language acquisition. (external link)

Lecture

• Kölsch, Stefan (2017). Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions and implications for therapy. (external link)

Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

• Jentschke, Sebastian; Koelsch, Stefan (2007). Einflüsse von Entwicklungsveränderungen auf die Musikwahrnehmung und die Beziehung von Musik und Sprache [The relationship of music and language and developmental influences on music perception]. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Selected publications

• Cheung, V. K., Harrison, P. M., Meyer, L., Pearce, M. T., Haynes, J. D., & Koelsch, S. (2019). Uncertainty and surprise jointly predict musical pleasure and Amygdala, Hippocampus, and auditory cortex activity. Current Biology, 29(23), 4084-4092.
• Koelsch, S. (2014). Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(3), 170-180.
• Koelsch, S., Vuust, P., & Friston, K. (2019). Predictive processes and the peculiar case of music. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 23(1), 63-77.
• Koelsch, S., Skouras, S., & Lohmann, G. (2018). The auditory cortex hosts network nodes influential for emotion processing: An fMRI study on music-evoked fear and joy. PloS one, 13(1), e0190057.
• Hohmann, L., Bradt, J., Stegemann, T., & Koelsch, S. (2017). Effects of music therapy and music-based interventions in the treatment of substance use disorders: A systematic review. PloS one, 12(11), e0187363.
• Taruffi, L., Pehrs, C., Skouras, S., & Koelsch, S. (2017). Effects of sad and happy music on mind-wandering and the default mode network. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 1-10.
• Pehrs, C., Zaki, J., Schlochtermeier, L. H., Jacobs, A. M., Kuchinke, L., & Koelsch, S. (2017). The temporal pole top-down modulates the ventral visual stream during social cognition. Cerebral Cortex, 27(1), 777-792.
• Koelsch, S., Boehlig, A., Hohenadel, M., Nitsche, I., Bauer, K., & Sack, U. (2016). The impact of acute stress on hormones and cytokines, and how their recovery is affected by music-evoked positive mood. Scientific reports, 6, 23008.
• Koelsch, S., Busch, T., Jentschke, S., & Rohrmeier, M. (2016). Under the hood of statistical learning: A statistical MMN reflects the magnitude of transitional probabilities in auditory sequences. Scientific reports, 6, 19741.
• Lehne, M., Rohrmeier, M., & Koelsch, S. (2014). Tension-related activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala: an fMRI study with music. Social cognitive and affective neuroscience, 9(10), 1515-1523.

Publication list in google.scholar

Our current projects include: 

Therapeutic effects of music and physical activity on the brains of individuals with, or at risk for, Alzheimer's disease. 

We also carry out MRI-studies (e.g. on emotions, or on the effects of emotions on thoughts, often using music as experimental stimulus), and EEG studies (e.g. on predictive coding).