Convergence: Connecting Levels of Analysis in Psychological Science
In the past, our field harbored distinct, and often competing, schools of thought that tackled different problems and produced findings that often appeared to diverge. Today, investigators attack shared problems at complementary levels of analysis and produce results that converge. Studies of people in a social world; mental systems of cognition and emotion; and biological mechanisms of the genome and the nervous system interconnect and yield an integrated psychological science. The APS 23rd Annual Convention displays, and celebrates, these advances in our field.

Music, Mind, and Brain

The Cognitive Basis of Musical Expertise: Are Musicians Born or Made?

Saturday, May 26, 2012, 1:50 PM - 2:35 PM
Sheraton Ballroom IV

Daniel J. Levitin
McGill University, Canada

To what extent is musical ability the result of genetic endowment versus environmental variables? Several studies have shown that a large proportion of variance is accounted for by practice, but others have identified a genetic basis. I'll review these studies, Ericsson's 10,000 rule, and the results of psychobiographical interviews to understand the relation between nature and nurture in music.

Daniel Levitin will sign copies of his books, The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature and This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession immediately following this program from 3:45 PM-4:15 PM outside of Sheraton Ballroom IV. Victor Wooten will also be joining Daniel and will have copies of his recent books and CDs available.

Daniel Levitin in the news: The Wall Street Journal (Nov 9, 2011) , The New York Times (Jan 25, 2012) , and NPR (Feb 21, 2012).

Read the APS Daily Observations on Daniel Levitin: Part I and Part II.

Full Music, Mind, and Brain speaker list

Subject Area: Music, Mind, and Brain