Stefan Kölsch

Stefan Kölsch is a German–American–Norwegian neuroscientist, psychologist, violinist, and bestselling author whose work explores how music shapes the brain, emotions, and health. He studied music, psychology, and sociology in Germany, completed his PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, and held positions at Harvard Medical School, the University of Sussex, and the Free University of Berlin. He is now Professor of Biological and Medical Psychology and Music Psychology at the University of Bergen, Norway.

Kölsch is internationally recognised for pioneering research on the neural foundations of music and emotion. His studies revealed that music activates the same brain systems involved in emotion, reward, and social bonding, findings that have transformed our understanding of how music can promote mental and physical wellbeing.

Bridging science, art, and human experience, Kölsch’s work aims to make complex research accessible to everyone. In Good Vibrations, he shows how melodies and rhythms can heal, connect, and inspire us, offering practical insights for musicians, therapists, healthcare professionals, and anyone who wants to use music to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.