Erin E. Hannon

Director, 51ԹϺ Music Lab
Professor, Department of Psychology
Expertise: Auditory cognitive development, Language acquisition, Perception of music, Music preferences and culture, Movement and coordination therapies, Stroke and TBI rehabilitation, Clinical psychology

Biography

Erin Hannon is the director of the 51ԹϺ Music Lab — more formally known as the 51ԹϺ Auditory Cognition and Development Lab — a research laboratory dedicated to finding the connection between music and psychological perception. She is also a professor in 51ԹϺ’s department of psychology.

Hannon’s research focuses on the links between music, language, and cultural perceptions — particularly in developing children. She probes how people come to understand sound, such as music and language, and the ways our cultural environment impacts that. Her research contributes to a growing body of scientific knowledge related to developmental disorders in language and reading; movement and coordination therapies; and rehabilitation after stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other neural disorders. 

Hannon approaches her research by examining how culture-specific listening experiences influence music perception, similarities between musical and linguistic skills during childhood, and how developmental milestones in music perception relate to other social, cognitive, and linguistic abilities and behaviors. Hannon's research has been published in notable psychology journals including Cognitive Psychology and the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

Education

  • Ph.D., Human Experimental Psychology, Cornell University
  • B.A., Psychology, Honors College of the State of Florida
  • B.A., Music, Honors College of the State of Florida

Related Links

Erin E. Hannon In The News

New York Post
Take aurally. Turns out the ultimate anxiety remedy may not be in your medicine cabinet — but on Spotify. An eight-minute ambient track called “Weightless” by British band Marconi Union is being hailed as the musical equivalent of a chill pill. The song was actually designed to de-stress listeners — and science says it works.
New York Post
Bach to the future: Neuroscientist says a centuries-old classical tune could be the secret to crushing your to-do list.
Parade
Should you listen to music while you work? It’s a polarizing question. Some people find working in silence boring and say that music helps them focus on the task at hand. Others say that music makes it hard for them to concentrate, causing them to work slower.
Verywell Mind
We all have that one friend who is shockingly adept at all things music-related. Whether they do it professionally or merely whip out their violin on special occasions, you can't help but wonder where their innate talent came from.

Articles Featuring Erin E. Hannon

Mirage Resort
Campus News | August 1, 2024

Roundup of the hottest news headlines featuring 51ԹϺ students and staff.

a female student sits in the grass by a tree reading a book
Campus News | September 1, 2022

A roundup of prominent news stories highlighting university pride, research, and community collaboration.