Trending...
- 'Unity Through Christ Music Festival' coming to Detroit Saturday August 9, 2025
- 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
Dr. Fredrik Ullén's pioneering work connects culture, cognition, and health
HURST, Texas - Michimich -- 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 Michimich.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 Michimich.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 Michimich.com
- Spanglish Entertainment Announces Inaugural Spanglish Party Cruise: A Celebration of Music and Culture
- Revolutionary Blockchain Platform Okh Finance Announces Okh Finance(OKKH) Token Launch to Transform Global Asset Leasing Market
- Cover Girl Finalist Teisha Mechetti Questions Legitimacy of Inked Originals Competition, Demands Transparency
- Easton & Easton, LLP Files Suit Against The Dwelling Place Anaheim & Vineyard USA Over Abuse Allegations
- AI Visibility: The Key to Beating Google's AI Overviews and Regaining Traffic
"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 Michimich.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
- Assent Expands Executive Team to Accelerate Global Growth & Innovation
- The World's Largest Green Economic Revolution Emerges as Nature, Tech, and Finance Converge
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
Filed Under: Health
0 Comments
Latest on Michimich.com
- Heritage at South Brunswick Offers Immediate Townhome Appointments and Special Mortgage Incentive Fast-Moving Sales
- NASA Collaborative Agreement for Supply of Thin-Film Solar Tech for Orbital Application to Advance Development of Thin-Film PV Power Beaming: $ASTI
- Critically Acclaimed Crime Drama Trap City, Starring Jeezy and Brandon T. Jackson Hits #1 on STARZ
- Exciting New Era of Sports, Entertainment & Gaming Innovation Spotlighted by Rebrand of Expanding AI Driven, Online Fan Engagement Company: SEGG Media
- Service Ninjas Debuts First-of-Its-Kind "Membership" Platform for Home Service Pros
- BIYA Forecasts 2025 Surge with ¥300M ($41.8 M USD) in Revenue and ¥25M Profit from Cloud Based HR Solutions: Baiya Intl. Group (N A S D A Q: BIYA)
- Paul E. Saperstein Co. Announces Geographic Expansion of Auction Services
- CMR Mechanical Shares 5 Signs Your AC May Be in Desperate Need for Repair
- Michigan SEO Group Shares 5 Proven Ways to Boost Social Media Engagement for Small Businesses
- Mussio Painting Shares The Benefits of Working with Professional Painters in Ann Arbor
- Family Caregivers in Michigan Can Now Get Paid Through Medicaid with Family Aide Home Care
- Florida Broker Bent Danholm Featured in the Daily Mail's U.S. Real Estate Coverage
- 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
- Bach and Beyond: Cellists Return to the Beach for 2nd Annual Bethany Beach Cellofest
- 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