Music, Neuroscience and the Future of Well-Being

Since its founding in 1995 by Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino and the late Dr. Oliver Sacks, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) has grown into an internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to exploring how music restores, maintains and enhances physical, emotional and neurological health.

Rooted in evidence-based music therapy and strengthened by collaborations with caregivers, institutions and researchers, IMNF offers outpatient services, group wellness programs, professional certification, and music-in-care consultation—including its well-known Music & Memory program.

Now celebrating three decades of transformative work, IMNF continues to innovate. Recent projects include an intergenerational ukulele club and a pilot study creating personalized songs for older adults with dementia in partnership with the Songs of Love Foundation—blending clinical expertise with heartfelt creativity.

Music, Mental Health and the 2025 Symposium

On November 21 at The Glasshouse in New York City, IMNF will host its annual flagship event, the Music Has Power Symposium & Awards. This year’s theme spotlights the vital connection between music and mental health, with a program featuring three expert-led panels:

• The Neuroscience of Music and Emotion

• Music Therapy and Music-Based Interventions

• Music-Based Technologies

Panelists include Dr. Daniel Bowling (Stanford), Dr. Pablo Ripollés (NYU), Dr. Ellen McCreedy (Brown), Anna Palumbo, Ph.D. (NYU), and Joanna Peña-Bickley, CEO and founder of VibesAi. Attendees will receive continuing-education credit and experience a rich mix of professional learning and hands-on engagement, culminating in an awards ceremony honoring the healing impact of music.

Honoring a Visionary: Maejor

Taking center stage this year is Maejor, Grammy-nominated artist, producer and thought leader, who will be recognized as the 2025 Music Has Power Awards honoree. Beyond billions of global streams, Maejor has made wellness and healing central to his life’s work. A cancer survivor himself, he advocates for sound therapy and integrative approaches to health through his acclaimed podcast Maejor Frequency—winner of Adweek’s Podcast of the Year—which bridges science, spirituality and creativity.

At the symposium, Maejor will lead an immersive sound session, inviting participants to experience resonance and restoration through deep tonal vibration. “Everyone wants to feel better and to do better, and music is such a universal tool to access that,” he says. His recognition reflects IMNF’s ongoing mission to illuminate how art and science come together in the service of healing.

Why It Matters

As neurological disorders, trauma and mental-health challenges continue to rise, IMNF’s work offers a model of care that is both innovative and profoundly human. Whether through individualized therapy or large-scale institutional consultation, each program emphasizes the transformative potential of music when medicine alone is not enough. 

The Symposium creates more than a stage for research, it fosters a conversation about sound, healing and the creative forces that unite communities.

Looking Ahead

As IMNF enters its 30th year, the organization invites practitioners, clinicians, researchers and the public to explore how music continues to shape the future of wellness. Through personalized songs, intergenerational engagement and immersive sound experiences, IMNF champions the profound healing power of connection through music. 

Time: noon to 5:30 p.m. Location: The Glasshouse (Midtown), 660 12th Ave., NYC. Call 914-513-5292 or visit IMNF.org for details.