Minna Huotilainen

Minna Huotilainen is a Professor of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Department of Education. She leads the team at the Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body, and Brain and serves as the vice director of the Master's programme in Changing Education.

• Research Interests: Educational neuroscience, music-brain interactions, cognitive development, stress physiology in learning, early childhood language acquisition, and digital pedagogy.
• Projects: Active in long-term initiatives like the Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain (2022–2029), NATUREACH (2023–2028), and WLIIP (2021–2025), focusing on preterm infant development, AI-enhanced learning, and nature-based stress recovery.
• Publications: Recent works examine neural mechanisms in music-trained adolescents, generative AI in VR education, and music’s role in language development for preterm infants.
• Activities: Regular speaker on topics like brain wellbeing, hybrid work neuroplasticity, and stress management through music. Supervises PhD/Master’s students including Anni-Lotta Hiirsalmi and Efthymios Papatzikis.