Trending...
- New Release: 'The Invisible Alternative' Unveiled by Atrisk Corporation, Resilient
- From Real Estate to Reel Power: H.L Woods Carves His Legacy as a Cutting-Edge Visionary Filmmaker
- SacraPod Suites Unveils AI-Powered 'Work + Rest' Smart Hospitality Model for Retrofitting Underused Motels Across the U.S
Dr. Fredrik Ullén's pioneering work connects culture, cognition, and health
HURST, Texas - nvtip -- Fredrik Ullén, Ph.D., MPA, a cognitive neuroscientist and world-class concert pianist, has been awarded the fifth Mensa Foundation Prize for his pioneering work demonstrating how developing expertise physically reshapes the brain and correlates with intelligence.
The biennial Mensa Foundation Prize honors the best discoveries in intelligence and creativity and is endowed by the estate of Kenneth Douglas Thomson (1934-2013), a longtime Mensa member. The award, which includes a $10,000 prize, will be presented July 2 at American Mensa's Annual Gathering in Chicago.
Dr. Ullén's career bridges both science and the arts. At Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany, he leads research that connects culture, cognition, and health. His best-known work uses music practice as a model to explore how skill acquisition alters brain structure. Through studies using diffusion MRI, his team has shown that expert musicians develop enhanced white matter pathways in areas tied to motor control, hearing, and higher-order cognition — changes that scale with experience and are linked to intelligence.
More on nvtip.com
"I personally think we can be rather happy with the fact that both genes and environments matter for individual differences," Dr. Ullén said. "The trick to realize your potential is, of course, to find what you really like to do and have an aptitude for, and then focus on developing that further through deliberate, goal-directed practice."
The Mensa Foundation's Prize Committee praised Dr. Ullén's innovative approach to understanding intelligence through the lens of neuroplasticity and genetic-environment interaction. "Dr. Ullén has made a science of unleashing intelligence, integrating the worlds of music, brain pathways, and human cognition," said Committee Chair Dr. Harry Ringermacher, a physicist and Mensa member.
Mensa Foundation President Nguyen Pham echoed that sentiment. "As a former young pianist (and forever nerd) myself, I feel personally connected to and uplifted by Dr. Ullén's revolutionary work at the intersection of art and science," Pham said. "By honoring and investing in this groundbreaking research, the Foundation is proud to further the understanding of human intelligence."
Dr. Ullén's research has also clarified why practice impacts individuals differently. His team's large-scale population and twin studies demonstrate that intelligence, personality, genetics, and environment all shape how effectively practice leads to expertise. His Multifactorial Gene-Environment Interaction Model has helped move the field beyond simplistic "practice-only" theories.
More on nvtip.com
In addition to his scientific career, Dr. Ullén is internationally known as a concert pianist and recording artist. He is the first pianist to record the complete 100 Transcendental Studies of composer Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, an eight-hour landmark in modern piano literature.
The first Mensa Foundation Prize was awarded in 2017 to Dr. David Silver for AI research. Subsequent recipients have included neuroscientist Dr. Aron K. Barbey (2019), statistical geneticist Dr. Danielle Posthuma (2021), and NIH neuroscientist Dr. R. Douglas Fields (2023).
# # #
The Mensa Foundation is committed to creating a community of individuals who share a passion for lifelong learning, curiosity, and making a positive impact in the world. Governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, the Foundation is funded by philanthropic support from people from all walks of life. To learn more about the Mensa Foundation, please visit MensaFoundation.org.
The biennial Mensa Foundation Prize honors the best discoveries in intelligence and creativity and is endowed by the estate of Kenneth Douglas Thomson (1934-2013), a longtime Mensa member. The award, which includes a $10,000 prize, will be presented July 2 at American Mensa's Annual Gathering in Chicago.
Dr. Ullén's career bridges both science and the arts. At Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany, he leads research that connects culture, cognition, and health. His best-known work uses music practice as a model to explore how skill acquisition alters brain structure. Through studies using diffusion MRI, his team has shown that expert musicians develop enhanced white matter pathways in areas tied to motor control, hearing, and higher-order cognition — changes that scale with experience and are linked to intelligence.
More on nvtip.com
- Stuck Doing Math or Figuring Out Life's Numbers? Calculator.now Makes It Stupidly Simple
- Colbert Packaging Announces WBENC Recognition
- DivX Empowers Media Enthusiasts with Free Expert Guides for Advanced MP4 Management
- Akon City Cancelled: Primal Mogul Confirms Senegal Scraps $6B Smart City Plan for $1.2B Resort
- Assent Expands Executive Team to Accelerate Global Growth & Innovation
"I personally think we can be rather happy with the fact that both genes and environments matter for individual differences," Dr. Ullén said. "The trick to realize your potential is, of course, to find what you really like to do and have an aptitude for, and then focus on developing that further through deliberate, goal-directed practice."
The Mensa Foundation's Prize Committee praised Dr. Ullén's innovative approach to understanding intelligence through the lens of neuroplasticity and genetic-environment interaction. "Dr. Ullén has made a science of unleashing intelligence, integrating the worlds of music, brain pathways, and human cognition," said Committee Chair Dr. Harry Ringermacher, a physicist and Mensa member.
Mensa Foundation President Nguyen Pham echoed that sentiment. "As a former young pianist (and forever nerd) myself, I feel personally connected to and uplifted by Dr. Ullén's revolutionary work at the intersection of art and science," Pham said. "By honoring and investing in this groundbreaking research, the Foundation is proud to further the understanding of human intelligence."
Dr. Ullén's research has also clarified why practice impacts individuals differently. His team's large-scale population and twin studies demonstrate that intelligence, personality, genetics, and environment all shape how effectively practice leads to expertise. His Multifactorial Gene-Environment Interaction Model has helped move the field beyond simplistic "practice-only" theories.
More on nvtip.com
- The World's Largest Green Economic Revolution Emerges as Nature, Tech, and Finance Converge
- Vinnetwork Unveils Decentralized AI Platform with Vinnetwork(VIN) Token to Challenge Tech Giants' Data Monopoly
- Centennial Flyers to Become Colorado's First Launch Customer for All-Electric B23 Energic Aircraft
- Pyro Marketing Opens New Digital Marketing Company in Saint Petersburg to Power Growth for Fitness and Ecommerce Brands
- Dr. John Salerno of Salerno Wellness Introduces Their New Full Body Capsule for Advanced LED Light Therapy Patient Treatments
In addition to his scientific career, Dr. Ullén is internationally known as a concert pianist and recording artist. He is the first pianist to record the complete 100 Transcendental Studies of composer Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, an eight-hour landmark in modern piano literature.
The first Mensa Foundation Prize was awarded in 2017 to Dr. David Silver for AI research. Subsequent recipients have included neuroscientist Dr. Aron K. Barbey (2019), statistical geneticist Dr. Danielle Posthuma (2021), and NIH neuroscientist Dr. R. Douglas Fields (2023).
# # #
The Mensa Foundation is committed to creating a community of individuals who share a passion for lifelong learning, curiosity, and making a positive impact in the world. Governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, the Foundation is funded by philanthropic support from people from all walks of life. To learn more about the Mensa Foundation, please visit MensaFoundation.org.
Source: Mensa Foundation
0 Comments
Latest on nvtip.com
- Robin Launches Legal Intelligence Platform to solve intelligence gap in Fortune 500 legal teams
- Melissa B. Releases Digitally Independent: Empowering Music Artists with AI and Brand Strategy
- Consumer Accountability Alliance Issues Formal Notice Alleging Proximate Liability for Medical Harm
- Utah Metal Fabricator Titan Forge Builds Momentum with Custom Steel Projects and Spiral Staircases
- Jason Koch: Pioneering the Future of Real Estate Development in New Jersey
- BOXABL Launches Search for New Directors and Executive Leadership
- Bach and Beyond: Cellists Return to the Beach for 2nd Annual Bethany Beach Cellofest
- Circus Circus Las Vegas Debuts Summer Pricing for Adventuredome, Carnival Midway
- NR7 Miner launches zero-cost USDT cloud mining service: daily stable income + referral rewards for double profit
- Deaths Spur Closures, but Troubled Teen Camps Must Be Banned, CCHR Warns
- Palmer Lake Wine Festival To Build Bridges in Small Mountain Community, Highlight Local Businesses
- SacraPod Suites Unveils AI-Powered 'Work + Rest' Smart Hospitality Model for Retrofitting Underused Motels Across the U.S
- From Real Estate to Reel Power: H.L Woods Carves His Legacy as a Cutting-Edge Visionary Filmmaker
- New Release: 'The Invisible Alternative' Unveiled by Atrisk Corporation, Resilient
- Cynthia Pinot Among Artists Selected for Renowned London Art Biennale 2025
- Real Estate Experts Highlight Jersey Shore as a Smart Buy in 2025
- Dr. Aubrey de Grey Brings Cutting-Edge Science to RAADfest 2025: LEV Foundation Partners with Coalition for Radical Life Extension
- $18 Price Target Issued in New Research Report After $34 Million Revenue Forecast from Acquisition; $101.5 Million Net Revenue in 2025; NAS DAQ: IQST
- West Dentistry Welcomes New Oral Surgeon to Enhance Patient Care
- The AML Shop Launches New Financial Investigations Unit, Appoints Director to Lead the Initiative