Two projects focused on the intersection of arts and technology have been named winners of the 2024 Pabst Steinmetz Foundation Arts and Wellness Innovation Awards. The UCF researchers and community partners were granted $25,000 per team to help fund their respective initiatives.
This year’s call for proposals encouraged researchers to leverage technology to enhance arts-based health programs, improve accessibility and develop evidence-based practices that promote overall wellness, under the theme “Innovative Synergy: Bridging Arts and Wellness with Technology.” As technology continues to transform how we live, work and create, the opportunity to explore the connection between the arts and wellness through a technological lens has never been more promising.
The awards were founded by Central Florida’s Pabst Steinmetz Foundation to recognize teams building sustainable models for arts and wellness innovation. The teams involve collaboration between the College of Arts and Humanities, at least one internal university partner and a community organization, in order to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and research.
“Partnerships between UCF and community always create magic and inspiration as they enrich our community’s capacity; the 2024 awardees/initiatives are no exception. We look forward to the impact each creates,” says Margery Pabst Steinmetz, who co-founded the foundation with her husband Chuck Steinmetz.
The winners were selected for their significant potential to positively impact the community through a collaboration of arts, science, wellness and engagement in their research.
Scientific Proof of Music Therapy’s Impact on Alzheimer’s Disease
In collaboration with UCF’s Lake Nona Medical Center and UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice at Lake Nona, this innovative research aims to investigate the effects of music therapy on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease by examining molecular changes in salivary exosomes. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles released by cells that carry biomarkers reflecting brain health, making them an ideal tool for studying the molecular effects of music therapy in Alzheimer’s. By analyzing biomarkers such as serotonin, dopamine, amyloid-beta and tau proteins, the study seeks to uncover how music therapy impacts mood, memory, and anxiety and potentially slows neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer’s .
UCF School of Performing Arts Professor and violinist Ayako Yonetani lends her expertise in music therapy and performance, which is crucial for developing effective music therapy sessions. Under her guidance, the project will include live classical music, as familiar and emotionally significant compositions are known to elicit stronger therapeutic responses. Yonetani’s unique combination of skills in both the performing arts and the therapeutic applications of music will help bridge the gap between the arts and science, ensuring that the music therapy sessions are effective and tailored to the needs of Alzheimer’s patients.
“Music is more than just art and entertainment — it has the power to enhance brain function and well-being,” says Yonetani, professor of modern languages and literatures. “About a decade ago, we discovered that Mozart’s music could boost frontal lobe function by 50%. While its benefits for Alzheimer’s patients have long been recognized, definitive proof has been challenging due to the difficulty of measuring brain function noninvasively.”
This pioneering collaboration between our Pegasus String Quartet at the music department and the College of Medicine bridges music and the brain, using innovative saliva-based technology developed at UCF to provide concrete evidence of its effects. I hope we continue to explore music’s remarkable influence and uncover new ways it can enrich our lives.”
The research aims to enhance the quality of life for patients by utilizing personalized music therapy. The noninvasive nature of salivary exosome analysis makes it an accessible and scalable method that could be widely adopted in clinical settings. Caregivers, who often experience significant emotional and physical stress, will also benefit from the improvements in patients’ mood and cognitive function, as well as the structured and meaningful interactions facilitated by music therapy.
In addition to benefiting Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, this research holds significant implications for the healthcare and research communities. The study’s findings could pave the way for the incorporation of music therapy as a complementary treatment, providing valuable clinical evidence to support its use. By demonstrating how music therapy influences molecular biomarkers, this research has the potential to revolutionize diagnostic and monitoring tools for Alzheimer’s, with possible applications in other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and various forms of dementia.
Ultimately, this research has the potential to establish music therapy as a scientifically supported and widely accessible treatment for Alzheimer’s, which could transform clinical practices and improve patient care.
This project involves researchers from the College of Arts and Humanities, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the UCF College of Medicine, including:
- Ayako Yonetani, School of Performing Arts
- Kiminobu Sugaya, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine
- Mariana Dangiolo, geriatrics and palliative medicine, College of Medicine
- Amoy Fraser, director of clinical and aerospace health research, College of Medicine
Immerse, Rehearse, Perform: An Innovative VR Experience for Overcoming Stage Fright
This project, developed by the CREATE team at UCF, aims to address performance anxiety — specifically public speaking anxiety — in schools. Utilizing immersive virtual reality (VR) technology, the initiative enables users to practice public speaking in a virtual classroom environment. The primary focus is on secondary and high school students, but the VR experience can be beneficial for anyone preparing for public speaking, including professionals such as ministers, motivational speakers, singers and individuals preparing for presentations.
“Our project combines new technologies in the use of virtual reality and the creation of digital assets in order to produce a complete, interactive and immersive experience for the user,” says Stella Sung, Director of UCF CREATE. “The project seeks to assist the user in practicing skills in order to help overcome anxiety, nervousness and fear in public speaking and presentations.”
While existing VR applications assist with performance anxiety during job interviews and public speaking events, this project enhances the experience further. Users can customize their VR practice sessions to simulate a range of disruptions — such as student chatter, tone shifts or camera jitters — and receive simulated audience feedback, providing a more realistic practice environment. This VR tool allows users to rehearse their material repeatedly in various conditions, offering the flexibility to practice at any time and in the comfort of their own homes.
The Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida has expressed a need for technology that can help students overcome performance anxiety and build their confidence. By partnering with UCF CREATE, the students now have access to advanced VR tools, along with opportunities for personal growth and development. The project is designed to be scalable, with the potential to reach schools, community centers, places of worship and other UCF organizations throughout Central Florida.
This project goes beyond skill-building as exposure to VR technology sparks interest in STEM fields and promotes digital literacy within the community, encouraging lifelong learning. It also has the potential to evolve into a commercially available application, expanding its reach and offering a valuable tool for public speaking in various fields.
This project includes researchers from UCF Create, E2i Creative Studio (iST), and Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida:
- Stella Sung, UCF CREATE, School of Visual Arts and Design, College of Arts and Humanities
- Ronald Hargrove, UCF CREATE, School of Visual Arts and Design, College of Arts and Humanities
- Maria Murillo, UCF CREATE, School of Visual Arts and Design, College of Arts and Humanities
- Eileen Smith, E2i Creative Studio, Institute for Simulation and Training, Pegasus Research Center
- Michael Carney, E2i Creative Studio, Institute for Simulation and Training, Pegasus Research Center
- Maria Harrington, Nicholson School of Communication and Media, College of Sciences
- Tasha Banks Robinson, Parramore Club, Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida
