Justin Christensen

Dr Justin Christensen is a Researcher in the Music Department at the University of Sheffield’s School of Languages, Arts and Societies. His work focuses on the intersection of music, technology, and dementia care, with a particular emphasis on fostering agency and creativity through musical interaction. He leads projects designing accessible musical technologies to support communication and social engagement in populations with cognitive decline.

His research explores embodied approaches to music therapy, emphasizing relational dynamics and joint agency in therapeutic settings. Key projects include the development of the MMM Duet System, a technology enabling collaborative music-making for dementia patients, and studies on acousmatic storytelling’s impact on social interactions in dementia care. He also investigates rhythmic syncopation and cognitive metrics in music perception.

Publications span empirical studies, design frameworks, and theoretical explorations of music’s role in wellbeing. Notable themes include digital adaptations for arts delivery during crises (e.g., pandemic response), user-centered technology design for dementia patients, and the neurocognitive foundations of musical agency.

Dr Christensen’s work bridges musicology, cognitive science, and healthcare technology, contributing to both academic discourse and practical interventions in dementia care.