Thomas Fritz

Professor Thomas Fritz is a Group Leader in the Department of Neurology at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany. His research focuses on music-evoked brain plasticity, neurocognition of music, and the application of music in rehabilitation and clinical settings. He holds a Visiting Professorship for Empirical Music Research at Ghent University since 2015.

Education includes a diploma thesis on emotion and music at the Max Planck Institute for Neuropsychology, a PhD collaboration at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, and an MFA in interface design and new media. His work bridges neuroscience, musicology, and technology, with a focus on music's impact on emotion, motor control, and cognitive performance.

Key research interests include the neural mechanisms underlying music perception, the therapeutic potential of music in rehabilitation (e.g., Jymmin® system), and the cross-cultural and evolutionary origins of music. He has conducted studies on music's effects in diverse populations, including patients with chronic pain, elderly individuals, and those with Parkinson’s disease.

Publications emphasize innovative applications of music feedback in exercise and rehabilitation, neuroplasticity induced by musical engagement, and the physiological correlates of musical emotion. His interdisciplinary approach integrates neuroscience, engineering, and clinical practice to advance therapeutic interventions and cognitive enhancement techniques.