Simone Dalla Bella, Université de Montréal

Research

music cognition rhythm perception and performance auditory cognitive neuroscience auditory-motor integration technological development Beat perception Cognitive functions Explicit timing

Latest papers

Music Ensemble: a large dataset on musicianship, cognition, and personality in musicians and nonmusicians
Scientific Data · 2026
Distinct developmental trajectories shape human sensitivity to rhythms in the environment.
Cognition · 2026
A Randomized Proof-of-Concept Study of Gamified Rhythmic Training in Autistic Children.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2026 · senior author

All 51 publications

Latest funding

cinEXmedia: Ensuring Well-Being in the Screen Age. A Partnership Supporting the Inclusive Use of Cinematic Experiences in Health, Education, and Society
SSHRC · 2022 · Co-investigator
$379,200
cinEXmedia: Ensuring Well-Being in the Screen Age. A Partnership Supporting the Inclusive Use of Cinematic Experiences in Health, Education, and Society
SSHRC · 2021 · Co-investigator
$19,965
cinEXmedia: Ensuring Well-Being in the Screen Age. A Partnership Supporting the Inclusive Use of Cinematic Experiences in Health, Education, and Society
SSHRC · 2021 · Co-investigator
$689,052

All 5 grants and awards

51 publications.

01

Music Ensemble: a large dataset on musicianship, cognition, and personality in musicians and nonmusicians

Talamini F, Grassi M, Altoè G, Brattico E, Caclin A, Carretti B, Drai-Zerbib V, Ferreri L, Gambarota F, Grahn J

Scientific Data2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41597-026-06654-0

02

Distinct developmental trajectories shape human sensitivity to rhythms in the environment.

Guinamard A, Foster NEV, Clément S, Bégel V, Kotz SA, Samson S, Dalla Bella S, Dellacherie D

Cognition2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2026.106663 PMID: 42480252

03

A Randomized Proof-of-Concept Study of Gamified Rhythmic Training in Autistic Children.

Jamey K, Laflamme H, Foster NEV, Rigoulot S, Hyde KL, Dalla Bella S

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/nyas.70270 PMID: 42024144

04

A Proof-of-Concept Study of Gamified Rhythmic Training in Preadolescents Who Stutter.

Jamey K, Finlay S, Foster NEV, Dalla Bella S, Falk S

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences2026

DOI: 10.1111/nyas.70188 PMID: 41528059

05

Impaired temporal processing in multiple sclerosis.

Pałubinski S, Foster NEV, Dalla Bella S, Podlecka-Piętowska A, Nojszewska M, Rychter J, Flis J, Szejko N, Zakrzewska-Pniewska B, Kałowski P, Benoit CÉ

Brain and cognition2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2025.106384 PMID: 41365205

06

The sound of longevity: music and technology for healthy ageing.

Ecarnot F, Brattico E, Camurri A, Cera A, Dalla Bella S, Grassi M, Koelsch S, Morganti W, Saller A, Sieber C, Tonello F, Vuust P, Maggi S, Pilotto A

Aging clinical and experimental research2026

DOI: 10.1007/s40520-026-03410-7 PMID: 42105182

07

Tuned to walk: cue type, beat perception, and gait dynamics during rhythmic stimulation in aging.

Parker A, Dalla Bella S, Penhune VB, Young L, Grenet D, Li KZH

Experimental brain research2026

DOI: 10.1007/s00221-026-07234-9 PMID: 41661338

08

From Finger Taps to Footsteps: Gait as a Model for Investigating and Training Rhythmic Abilities.

Ziane C, Dalla Bella S

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/nyas.70169 PMID: 41410521

09

Distinct Rhythmic Competencies Identified via Internet-Based Assessment.

Fiveash A, Foster NEV, Gordon RL, Dalla Bella S, Tillmann B

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences2026

DOI: 10.1111/nyas.70372 PMID: 42579275

10

Can you beat the music? Validation of a gamified rhythmic training in children with ADHD.

Jamey K, Laflamme H, Foster NEV, Rigoulot S, Lippé S, Kotz SA, Dalla Bella S

Behavior research methods2025Senior author

DOI: 10.3758/s13428-025-02802-3 PMID: 41053410

cinEXmedia: Ensuring Well-Being in the Screen Age. A Partnership Supporting the Inclusive Use of Cinematic Experiences in Health, Education, and Society

Co-investigatorSSHRC2022Partnership Grants

Keywords: film studies; cinema experience; intersectorality; rhythm; visual literacy; techno-social innovation; education; health sciences; screen studies; co-viewing; digital platforms; inclusive media; science of screens

$379,200

cinEXmedia: Ensuring Well-Being in the Screen Age. A Partnership Supporting the Inclusive Use of Cinematic Experiences in Health, Education, and Society

Co-investigatorSSHRC2021Partnership Grants

Keywords: film studies; cinema experience; intersectorality; rhythm; visual literacy; techno-social innovation; education; health sciences; screen studies; co-viewing; digital platforms; inclusive media; science of screens

$19,965

cinEXmedia: Ensuring Well-Being in the Screen Age. A Partnership Supporting the Inclusive Use of Cinematic Experiences in Health, Education, and Society

Co-investigatorSSHRC2021Partnership Grants

Keywords: film studies; cinema experience; intersectorality; rhythm; visual literacy; techno-social innovation; education; health sciences; screen studies; co-viewing; digital platforms; inclusive media; science of screens

$689,052

Music Auditory-Motor Skill Learning and New Technologies

Principal investigatorNSERC2021Canada Research Chairs

Principal investigators: Dalla Bella, Simone

Keywords: music cognition; rhythm perception and performance; auditory cognitive neuroscience; auditory-motor integration; technological development

$650,000

Tracking the beat of music: Mechanisms underpinning inter-individual differences and effects on rhythm learning

Principal investigatorNSERC2019Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Dalla Bella, Simone

Keywords: Beat perception; Cognitive functions; Explicit timing; Implicit timing; Individual differences; Learning; Music; Perception and action; Rhythm; Sensorimotor synchronization

$240,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Psychologie
Psychology
Department of Psychology - Université de Montréal
Linguistics
École de kinésiologie et des sciences de l'activité physique
Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour

Co-authors at Université de Montréal, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Simone Falk

Linguistics

3 shared papers, latest 2026

Laurel Trainor

Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Isabelle Peretz

Psychologie

1 shared papers, latest 2010

Jessica Grahn

Psychology

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Sylvie Belleville

Psychologie

1 shared papers, latest 2022

Simon Rigoulot

Psychologie

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Fabien Dal Maso

École de kinésiologie et des sciences de l'activité physique

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Jonathan Wilbiks

Psychology

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2021

Subject: Prospective PhD student: music cognition Dear Professor Dalla Bella, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Music Ensemble: a large dataset on musicianship, cognition, and personality in musicians and nonmusicians" (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Music Auditory-Motor Skill Learning and New Technologies" (2021), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]