Virginia Penhune is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Concordia University.  She is also an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill.  Dr. Penhune completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at McGill University in 1998 under the supervision of Dr. Michael Petrides.  Her thesis research investigated the neural basis of rhythm perception and production.  She then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Laval with Dr. Julien Doyon where she focused on examining the neural basis of temporal motor learning.  She joined the Concordia faculty in 2000 and is currently a Full Professor.  Dr. Penhune directs the Laboratory for Motor Control and Neural Plasticity and conducts structural and functional neuroimaging experiments in collaboration with researchers at the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre at the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University.  The research in Dr. Penhune’s laboratory explores the neural basis of human motor skill learning and performance, with an emphasis on the impact of development and expertise.  She uses structural and functional neuroimaging techniques to examine the role of the cerebellum, striatum and motor cortical areas in motor learning, and to explore auditory-motor integration in the context of the perception and production of musical rhythms.  This research program takes a broad developmental perspective, including studies in children and older adults, as well as individuals with musical training.  An important current line of research examines the impact of early musical training on behaviour and brain structure.

The research programs in Dr. Penhune’s lab are funded by both national and provincial agencies, including CIHR, NSERC and CFI.  In recognition of her career achievements, she received the FRSQ Chercheur Boursier Junior I and II awards.  Dr. Penhune has published over forty papers in peer-reviewed journals.  She is a founding member of the Montreal inter-university Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound (BRAMS), as well as the NSERC/CREATE-funded training grant in Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience. In addition, she is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Quebec Bio-imaging Network, and a member of the FQRSC-funded Centre for Research in Human Development and the FRSQ Centre for the Study of Behavioural Neuroscience.  

Speaker in I Medici's Lecture series on the Biology of Music.
Fascinatin’ Rhythm:  How auditory and motor regions of the brain work together
Lecture-Concert, April 21, 2013.