Alexandra Rieger

Alexandra Rieger is a cognitive neuroscientist, cross-modal researcher, multi-instrumentalist musician, doctoral student, and instructor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab. She has published over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles. Before receiving her Ph.D. placement and second M.S. at MIT, she earned a master’s degree in neuroscience, engineering, and cross-modal studies from Dartmouth College and a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. Her social service work throughout the world as an honorary United Nations youth ambassador has informed some of the larger questions in her work.

Rieger is passionate about promoting neurodiversity and improving upon the human experience by creating pathways between the fields of neuroscience, technology, music, accessible design, and multisensory studies. She's the inventor of the world's first series of medical musical instruments: noninvasive devices to heal the brain, engage the senses, and support novel musical creativity. Currently she's working on the collaborative Aging Brain Initiative to research the effects of specific frequencies in the treatment of Alzheimer's. Her background in the neurosciences and multi-instrumental skills allow her to design and conceptualise a positive sensory experience around stimuli to support efficacy and encourage patient compliance. Her research in this area contributes aspects of cross-modal gamma stimulation for human-centred applications. She's also carving out a new field of inquiry, engaging multimodal sensory and hyper-sensory research. Broadly, she seeks to develop and deploy sustainable solutions, assistive technologies, and innovations for cognitive pathologies like Alzheimer’s and other challenges. As of 2016, she was appointed a MindHandHeart MIT Fellow and a CAST committee member.

In 2019, Reiger founded Songs for the Earth in partnership with Club Passim, MIT's MindHandHeart, and Open Space MIT; it's a monthly celebration of intersections between science, music, and our planet. Her international lectures on stages such as Harvard University, Oxford University, and MIT connect general and expert audiences to cutting-edge, cross-field scientific innovation and dynamic performance.