Spanish student collaborates with MIB on project about absolute pitch in children.

06.09.2017 | Hella Kastbjerg

Magdalena studies Biochemistry (B.A.) at the university of Illes Balears (UIB) in Mallorca (Spain). Her final project degree will take place in collaboration with Center for Music in the Brain (MIB). The project aims to understand neurobiological implications and neuronal networks underlying absolute pitch possession in children. As part of an Erasmus Traineeship program, Magdalena is participating in research in the interactions between sensory perception and singing. This entails psychophysiological research on interoceptive accuracy (i.e., heartbeat perception) alongside acoustic and tactile perceptual thresholds, musical ear tests, and musical history. 

During her studies at UIB, she learnt about the principles of biochemistry and molecular biology but also about the application of methods and instrumentation used for bio-analytics and genetic determinations in a clinical laboratory. Her knowledge includes molecular, biochemical, and genetic changes that underlie different pathologies and diseases, as well as their prognostics and diagnostics. Within this realm, she has been trained in monitoring the presence of xenobiotics (drugs, dopes, contaminates, etc) in biological samples, and also in the genetic manipulation and development of transgenic organisms.

Parallel to her university studies, she's been working as a laboratory assistant in a bio-laboratory, where she analyzed biological samples using microbiological and physico-chemical techniques. Moreover, she’s been working as a research assistant with the Neurophysiology team at University of Balearic Islands.

Since 2015, Magdalena has also been participating in different scientific activities (e.g., “Ciencia per a totem”) at University of Balearic Islands. Complementary off-curricular online courses at Duke University and Berklee University enhanced her understanding of the biological foundations of music.  In addition, she has been performing regularly as an amateur musician, both on the violin and the piano and has been part of of folk music groups in Mallorca