Andrea Norton

Norton is a classically trained vocalist and choral conductor educated at Westminster Choir College in Church Music. She directed a community Renaissance a cappella ensemble and spent six years at New England Conservatory's Research Center for Learning Through Music, where she contributed to curriculum design and assessment frameworks. Since 2002, she has collaborated with neurologist Gottfried Schlaug on investigations examining "music learning on children's brain growth and cognitive development" and studying therapeutic applications including Melodic Intonation Therapy for post-stroke aphasia and autism spectrum disorders. Her research focuses on understanding how music alters neural pathways to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

• Musical Training Shapes Structural Brain Development (2009) Paper
• Melodic Intonation Therapy: Shared Insights on How It Is Done and Why It Might Help (2009) Paper
• From Music Making to Speaking: Engaging the Mirror Neuron System in Autism (2010) Paper
• From Singing to Speaking: Why Singing May Lead to Recovery of Expressive Language Function in Patients with Broca's Aphasia (2008) Paper