University of South Florida | United States
Jennifer A. Bugos is a Professor of Music Education at the University of South Florida whose research bridges music education, cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and gerontology. She earned her Ph.D. in Music Education with a minor in Gerontology from the University of Florida and completed postdoctoral training in Clinical Cognitive Neuropsychology, complemented by advanced training in event-related potentials (ERP). Her research focuses on understanding how music training influences cognitive, neural, and psychosocial functioning across the lifespan. Using rigorous methodologies such as randomized controlled trials, EEG, ERP, and neurocognitive assessments, she has demonstrated that piano instruction, jazz improvisation, and multimodal music interventions significantly improve executive function, memory, attention, auditory processing, and emotional well-being in children, older adults, and individuals with neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Her work has also provided important insights into neuroplasticity, healthy aging, and music-based cognitive rehabilitation. Professor Bugos has published extensively in leading international journals and has established a strong record of interdisciplinary collaboration spanning music education, neuroscience, psychology, and aging research. Through her innovative scholarship and evidence-based interventions, she has made significant contributions to advancing the scientific understanding of music as a powerful tool for enhancing brain health, cognitive resilience, and lifelong learning.
Featured Publications
Bugos, J. A., Gbadamosi, A., Laesker, D., Chow, R., Sirocchi, S., Norgaard, M., Ghent, J., & Alain, C. (2024). Jazz piano training modulates neural oscillations and executive functions in older adults: A pilot study. Music Perception, 41(5), 378–390.
Bugos, J. A., Bidelman, G. M., Moreno, S., Shen, D., Lu, J., & Alain, C. (2022). Music and visual art training increase auditory-evoked theta oscillations in older adults. Brain Sciences, 12(10), Article 1302.
Bugos, J. A., DeMarie, D., Stokes, C., & Power, L. P. (2022). Multimodal music training enhances executive functions in children: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1516(1), 95–105.
Bugos, J. A., & Wang, Y. (2022). Piano training enhances executive functions and psychosocial outcomes in aging: Results of a randomized controlled trial. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 77(9), 1625–1636.
Bugos, J. A., Laubisch, K. R., Zhu, A., Avendaño, J. S., & Bryant, J. B. (2025). Associations between music training and language fluency on cognitive control and processing speed. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1662938.