Tanja Linnavalli

Tanja Linnavalli is a University Lecturer at the Department of Education, University of Helsinki, specializing in cognitive science and educational neuroscience. She contributes to the Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain and co-supervises doctoral students in the Doctoral Programme in Cognition, Learning, Instruction and Communication. Her research explores music-based interventions, mathematical cognition, and prosocial behavior development in children.

• Education:
  • PhD in Cognitive Science (2019)
  • MA in Cognitive Science (2014)
  • MSc in Musicology (2002)

Linnavalli's research bridges music education, neuroscience, and social justice. Key projects include MUSPRO (Music, Sports, and Prosocial Behavior) and MArBLeS (Mathematics and Arts-Based Learning). Her work focuses on physiological arousal in learning, mentalizing interventions, and multilingualism in education.

Recent publications highlight cross-domain impacts of music on language and math skills, prosocial behavior, and health-related quality of life in early childhood education. She collaborates internationally, including academic visits to the University of Alicante and participation in symposia like Neurodynamics of Language and Music and Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Vuoden Norssi Prize (2025)

Linnavalli leads research projects funded by foundations such as Svenska kulturfonden and Svenska Litteratursällskapet i Finland, focusing on arts-based learning and prosocial development. She contributes to public discourse through media appearances, emphasizing music's role in language acquisition and cognitive growth.