Welcome to the Science of Music, Auditory Research, and Technology Lab!
About Us
The SMART lab is an interdisciplinary research team at Toronto Metropolitan University. We are engaged with basic and applied research questions at the intersection of music, mind and action. Our research foci include music cognition, hearing science, and health and wellbeing. Click here to learn more about our philosophical and methodological approach to research.
Recent News
“The Side Effects Are Dancing”: How One Company Uses Music to Treat Dementia
June 13, 2025
Toronto-based company, LUCID, combines facial mapping software, artificial intelligence, and music to create a therapeutic treatment for older patients dealing...
Read moreThe sound of science: How music can transform our brains
April 15, 2024
Toronto Star article “The sound of science: How music can transform our brains” – an interview about Frank’s work with...
Read more“Turning Music into Medicine” Podcast
March 26, 2024
TMU’s The Forefront podcast with Aaron Labbé and Frank Russo on “Turning Music into Medicine” saved on Spotify (Season 4,...
Read moreResearch Focus
Music Cognition / Emotion
Our primary stream of “basic research” seeks to understand music perception and production from an embodied perspective...
Hearing Science
Our secondary stream of “basic research” focuses on auditory perception and cognition in real-world listening scenarios...
Health & Well-Being
Our “applied research” generally seeks to develop or optimize assistive technologies (e.g., hearing aids) as well as music-based interventions...