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Posters, Publications and Community Outreach

Learn about recent publications, presentations and community outreach efforts from the PROMUS Lab team, plus upcoming projects.

A group of people pose for a group photo outdoors.

From left: Jasmine Taylor, Laura Blankenship (Lyric Opera of Kansas City), Rebecca Lepping Ph.D., Elizabeth Stegemoller, Ph.D. (Iowa State University), Neal Long (Lyric Opera of Kansas City)

Jasmine Taylor (L) and Rebecca Lepping (R) at the poster presentation
From left: Jasmine Taylor and Rebecca Lepping presenting their poster "Improving Chronic Pulmonary Disease Outcomes through Singing"

Posters, Presentations and Community News
  • "Music & the Mind: Exploring the Neuroscience of Music," invited talk by Dr. Rebecca Lepping, presented to the Kansas City Symphony Auxiliary Groups, January 21, 2026.
  • "How Music Affects the Brain to Benefit Mental Health," invited talk by Dr. Rebecca Lepping, presented via webinar to the Mental Health of America, January 23, 2026.
  • Michaela Di Palmo, MT-BC, receives Music4Pain Network's Visiting Scholar Award to join PROMUS Lab, February 3, 2026.
  • Shake, Rattle & Roll, interactive event at the Lied Center of Kansas and the Kennedy Early Childhood Center, Lawrence, KS, March 4. 2026.
  • Human Mapping Program - Frontiers Research Symposium, March 12, 2026.
    • Lepping, R. J., Pearl, M., Akhter, M., Chen, X., Hu, J., Li, Y., and Pearson, C. “Epilepsy Localization with Diffusion Tensor Imaging.”
  • All Things Brain Health - Singing for Strength: Music Therapy for Parkinson's: Panel news segment about music's ability to create connection and community for people with Parkinson's disease, March 17, 2026.
  • Panel presentation for KU Medical Center's Women's History Month event sponsored by Impact and Belonging, March 26, 2026.
    • Lepping, R. J., Durham, D., Heitzman-Powell, L., Sharma, N., Rohrberg, T., Shnayder, L., Smith, A., Templeton, K., Trujillo, L., and Zhang, A. “Women’s History Month: Making History at KU Medical Center: Resilience, Innovation & Impact.”
  • Renée Fleming: Music and Mind, A Panel Discussion, April 16, 2026.
  • "Music for Health and Wellness," invited talk by Dr. Rebecca Lepping, presented at KU Medical Center's Well-Being Conference, May 20, 2026.
  • PROMUS Lab poster presentation - Mental Health KC Conference, May 29, 2026.
    • Taylor, J. M., Keunen, R. L., Song, S., Savage, K., and Lepping, R. J. “Healing & Harmony Concert Series: UMKC Conservatory of Music and KU Cancer Center.”
  •  "Music Neuroscience to Support Mental Health," invited talk by Dr. Rebecca Lepping, presented at the Mental Health KC Conference, May 29, 2026.
  • Open Mics with Dr. Stites - The Science Behind the Healing Power of Music: Podcast interview ​with KU Executive Vice Chancellor Dr. Steven Stites about Dr. Rebecca Lepping's research in the Power of Music (PROMUS) Lab, May 7, 2025.
  • Rebecca Lepping authors study on adolescent pain management through music, University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Neurology News and Events, July 29, 2025. 
  • Guest lecturer shares "Singing in Parkinson's" research through Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program, University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Neurology News and Events, August 20, 2025.
  • How Live Music Impacts the Brain, The University of Kansas Health System YouTube, September 16, 2025.
  • KU Musicians in Medicine, KU ADRC weekly community webinar, September 18, 2025.
  • Making Waves: A Deep-Dive on Arts and Health, interactive event presented by Art as Mentorship and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, September 18, 2025.
  • Brains, Thoughts-N-Harmony, interactive event at the University of Kansas, October 8, 2025.
  • "Multimodal Brain Imaging Biomarkers for Clinical Research, guest lecture by Dr. Rebecca Lepping, presented to KU Medical Center's Department of Biostatistics and Data Science Seminar Series, October 17, 2025.
  • KU Medical Center First Gen Day, Dr. Rebecca Lepping, invited panelist, November 7, 2025.
  • "The Power of Music (PROMUS) Lab: Music Neuroscience to Promote Health and Wellbeing," guest lecture by Dr. Rebecca Lepping presented to the Symphony League Kansas City, November 12, 2025.
  • Live Music and Tinnitus Research, live music performance by the Bel Canto Duo and tinnitus research by Dr. Lauren Mann, November 24, 2025.
  • All Things Brain Health - Your Brain on Music! - Panel news segment discussing whether listening to music changes your brain, November 25, 2025.
  • "Arts and Mental Health," guest lecture by Dr. Rebecca Lepping and J. Graves, presented during a webinar for the Kansas City Metropolitan Council of Community Mental Health Centers, December 11. 2025.
  • "Music Neuroscience to Benefit Brain Health," Department of Neurology Grand Rounds presentation by Dr. Rebecca Lepping, December 12, 2025.

Music and AD Project Poster #1 

  • Lepping, R. J., Williams, K. N., Niedens, M., Burns, J. M. "Music-Based Interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease." Presented at Frontiers Annual Research Symposium in Kansas City, MO, March 6, 2024. 

PROMUS Lab Research Invited Speaker – ArtsKC Who Needs Art Thought Leadership Summit 

  • Lepping, R. J., "The Power of Music (PROMUS) lab: Music neuroscience in Kansas City." Invited presentation at the ArtsKC Who Needs Art Though Leadership Summit in Kansas City, MO, May 9, 2024. 

“AD Biomarkers Research Poster” – AAIC 2024, presented by Jasmine Taylor 

  • Lepping, R. J., Taylor, J. M., Honea, R. A., Hess, B. J., Vidoni, E. D., Brooks, W. M., Burns, J. M., Swerdlow, R. H. "Similarity of regional brain blood flow and glucose utilization imaging biomarkers in older adults." Presented at Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Philadelphia, PA, July 27-Aug 1, 2024.  

PROMUS Lab Research Invited Speaker – Music and Mind with Renée Fleming 

  • Lepping, R. J. "Music and the Mind: Music Neuroscience Across the Lifespan," Invited presentation at Music and Mind with Renée Fleming, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, MO, September 26, 2024. 

Guest Lecture – University of Kansas Music Therapy 2024 

  • Lepping, R. J. "Music on the Brain: Music Neuroscience Across the Lifespan." Guest lecture presented to the University of Kansas MEMT 463 Influence of Music on Behavior Class, October 3, 2024.

EMPOWER Project Poster #3 - KU School of Medicine Internal Medicine Research Day 2024, presented by Jasmine Taylor

  • Taylor, J. M., Hanson-Abromeit, D., Choi, J., Brunkan, M. C., Stewart, N. V., Wilson, A. L., Mansour, Z. M., Castro, M., Lepping, R. J. "Using a Vocal Respiratory Program to Improve Chronic Pulmonary Disease." Presented at KU School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine Research Day in Kansas City, KS, October 2024. 

EMPOWER Project Poster #4 - KU School of Medicine Internal Medicine Research Day 2024, presented by Teresa Otieno and Benjamin Hess  

  • Otieno, T. W., Hess, B. H., Taylor, J. M., Hanson-Abromeit, D., Choi, J., Stewart, N. V., Wilson, A. L., Brunkan, M. C., Mansour, Z. M., Castro, M., Lepping, R. J. "Improving COPD Research Through Community Involved Study Design." Presented at KU School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine Research Day in Kansas City, KS, October 2024. 

FM MUSIC Project Presentation – Frontiers Research Symposium 2023 

  • Lepping, R. J., McMillan, M. L. Chadwick, A. L., Mansour, Z. M., Martin, L. E., Gustafson, K. M., "Autonomic nervous system markers of music-elicited analgesia in people with fibromyalgia: A double-blind randomized pilot study." Presented at the Frontiers Research Symposium in Kansas City, KS, March 9, 2023.

EMPOWER Project Poster #2 – KU School of Medicine Internal Medicine Research Day 2023, presented by Jasmine Taylor  

  • Taylor, J. M., Hanson-Abromeit, D., Brunkan, M. C., Mansour, Z. M., Choi, J., White, J., Guzman-Damian, L., Stewart, N. V., Castro, M., Lepping, R. J. "Improving Chronic Pulmonary Disease Outcomes through Singing." Presented at the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine Research Day in Kansas City, KS, October 4, 2023. 

Guest Lecture – University of Kansas Music Therapy 2022 

  • Lepping, R. J. "Applying Neuroscience Methods to Music Research." Guest lecture presented to the University of Kansas MEMT 463 Influence of Music on Behavior Class, September 2022. 

EMPOWER Project Poster #1 – Music Educators International Conference 2022 

  • Brunkan, M., Lepping, R. J., Hanson-Abromeit, D., Mansour, Z. M., Choi, J., White, J., Guzman-Damian, L., Stewart, N., Castro, M. "Musical interventions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." Presented at the Music Educators International Conference in Washington, D. C., November 2022. 
Rebecca Lepping and Jasmine Taylor represent PROMUS at the 2025 Kansas State Fair.
Teresa Otieno and Benjamin Hess presenting their poster Improving COPD Research Through Community Involved Study Design.
Elizabeth Stegemöller, Ph.D., presents "Singing in Parkinson's" at Lyric Opera of Kansas City.
Piper Hutson (Missouri Arts Council) and Rebecca Lepping, Ph.D., present neuroarts research with Art as Mentorship at the 2025 Making Waves event at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.
KU School of Medicine

University of Kansas Medical Center
Department of Neurology
Mailstop 2012
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: 913-588-6970
Fax: 913-588-6965