Pradeep Sharma Wins PNAS Cozzarelli Prize for Paper on Musical Perception

Pradeep Sharma, the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor of Mechanical Engineering and interim dean of the Cullen College of Engineering, has been awarded the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 2023 Cozzarelli Prize for his groundbreaking paper on musical perception.

Sharma's paper, titled "A minimal physics-based model for musical perception," delves into the intricate world of musical perception and seeks to answer the question of why some individuals have a superior ability to hear music compared to others. The paper was the sole winner in the Engineering and Applied Sciences category, standing out among over 3000 research articles published in PNAS last year.

In his research, Sharma explores how the physical properties of the auditory system, particularly the hair cells in the inner ear, play a crucial role in determining an individual's musical perception capabilities. He and his team developed a physics-based model to understand how these hair cells perceive multiple tones and differentiate between pitches with precision.

According to Sharma, "The physics-based model explains how the geometry and electromechanical properties of hair cells may influence musical perception. The model also explores the impact of factors external to the auditory system, including medications such as ibuprofen." Sharma also highlights the potential effects of NSAID drugs on cell structure and their influence on musical perception, leaving room for further research in this area.

Sharma's research team includes Kosar Mozaffari from the University of Houston, Fatemeh Ahmadpoor from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Qian Deng from Xi’an Jiaotong University in China. The annual Cozzarelli Prize recognizes scientific excellence and originality, with Sharma's work standing out for its innovative approach to understanding the complexities of musical perception.

Sharma's award-winning paper sheds light on a fascinating aspect of human perception and sets the stage for future advancements in the field of auditory science.