Nimhans to establish India's first music and brain research centre with Ilaiyaraaja
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) in Bengaluru announced on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the establishment of the National Centre for Music, Brain, Mind and Health. The proposed facility, which will study how music affects the human brain and mental health, is being set up under the patronage of renowned music composer and Padma Vibhushan awardee Ilaiyaraaja.
The new centre is being established in collaboration with the Mercuri Foundation. It aims to become India’s first interdisciplinary national facility dedicated to studying the intersection of music, neuroscience, mental health, cognition, rehabilitation, and technology.
According to Nimhans, the initiative seeks to advance research, clinical innovation, education, and public engagement in areas related to music and human well-being. The centre's primary focus will be on understanding how music influences the brain, cognition, emotions, and overall health. Researchers will work on developing evidence-based approaches that can be applied in healthcare and community settings.
In a press release, the institute stated, "The centre aims to bridge traditional wisdom, artistic excellence and modern neuroscience to develop evidence-based approaches that can benefit individuals and communities alike."
The institute also highlighted that the patronage of Ilaiyaraaja adds a profound cultural and artistic dimension to the initiative. Dr. Prabha S. Chandra serves as the director of Nimhans.
This initiative builds on a long history of neuromusicology research at the Bengaluru-based institute. Research into how music interacts with the brain, cognition, emotion, and mental health has been active at Nimhans since 2009.
To support these studies, the institute set up the Music Cognition Laboratory in 2011. The laboratory was the country’s first dedicated facility focused on music cognition and neuromusicology. The newly announced national centre will expand upon these existing research foundations to further explore the therapeutic and neurological effects of music.
