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...

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The 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...

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“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,...

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Research Focus

Music Cognition / Emotion

Our primary stream of “basic research” seeks to understand music perception and production from an embodied perspective...

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Hearing Science

Our secondary stream of “basic research” focuses on auditory perception and cognition in real-world listening scenarios...

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Health & Well-Being

Our “applied research” generally seeks to develop or optimize assistive technologies (e.g., hearing aids) as well as music-based interventions...

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Get Involved

Interested in being a part of the lab or a research participant?