Name:Kevin, Jamey

School/Affiliation:University of Southern Califonia

Co-Authors:Kevin, Jamey; Ellen, Herschel; Caitlin, Noel; Jed, Villanueva; Melissa Reyes; Eustace, Hsu; Beatriz, Ilari; Wendy, Mack; Shan, Luo*; Assal, Habibi*

Virtual or In-person:In-person

Short Bio:

Kevin Jamey is a postdoctoral researcher at the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC, working with Dr. Assal Habibi. His research focuses on music-based interventions to support cognitive development in children. He completed his PhD in Psychology at BRAMS (Université de Montréal) with Dr. Simone Dalla Bella, where he adapted a rhythmic tablet app (Rhythm Workers) to help improve sensorimotor and executive skills in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, ADHD & stuttering). He is currently studying the long-term effects of music training in children, examining both behavioral outcomes and brain plasticity. Outside the lab, Kevin is also a singer-songwriter and producer, blending science and art to explore emotion and movement through music creation.

Abstract:

Background: Music training has been linked to numerous benefits in child development; however, few long-term, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have rigorously tested these claims. In particular, it remains unclear whether such benefits are specific to musical skills or extend to higher-order cognitive functions such as inhibitory control (IC)—a core executive function associated with academic, social, and emotional outcomes. The Extracurricular Activity and Child Early Learning and Development (EXCEL) trial was designed to address this gap by assessing the feasibility and preliminary effects of a two-year music training program on brain and behavioral measures of IC in children from neighborhoods with limited means in Los Angeles.
Methods: In this ongoing RCT, 126 children aged 6–8 years were randomly assigned to either a music (intervention) or theatre (active control) after-school program, each delivered over 24 months by established community arts organizations. Participants completed baseline neuroimaging and behavioral assessments, including Go/No-Go and delay gratification tasks. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, and program fidelity.
Progress and Implications: To date, the first cohort (N = 42) has completed the full protocol, and preliminary analyses indicate high retention (>85%) and strong adherence across both groups, supporting the viability of implementing long-term, community-based arts interventions with neuroimaging. The EXCEL trial represents one of the first U.S. efforts to combine longitudinal fMRI with arts education research. Findings will inform how sustained engagement in music may shape the development of inhibitory control networks in childhood.