Laura Cirelli

Laura Cirelli is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where she directs the TEMPO Lab (Timing, Entrainment, & Music Perception). Her research explores the social, emotional, and cognitive dimensions of music perception in infants and children.

• Education:
  • B.A. in Psychology, Laurentian University
  • Ph.D. in Psychology, McMaster University

Research Interests:
Dr. Cirelli investigates how musical activities shape infant social and emotional experiences. Key focuses include:

• Infant prosocial behavior toward musical partners
• Impact of infant-directed singing on parent-infant relationships
• Development of rhythm perception and auditory-motor integration
• Physiological responses (e.g., skin conductance, EEG) in music perception

The TEMPO Lab conducts studies with children aged 6 months to 10 years, examining brain rhythm tracking, spontaneous movement to music, and developmental social effects.