Fleur Bouwer is a cognitive neuroscientist. In her research, she combines a fascination for human behaviour and the brain with a passion for music. Her research focuses on auditory perception in general, and on processes associated with rhythm in music in particular.

More information about Fleur Bouwer

Fleur Bouwer is a cognitive neuroscientist. In her research, she combines a fascination for human behaviour and the brain with a passion for music. Her research focuses on auditory perception in general, and on processes associated with rhythm in music in particular.

Research

In her research, Bouwer combines behavioural tasks with computational modelling and neuroimaging techniques like EEG and fMRI, to examine how humans process different aspects of rhythm in music. In addition, Bouwer is involved in projects aimed at understanding what musicality is, and how we can measure and explain differences in musicality between individuals. She is also involved in projects aimed towards applications of her fundamental research question: how can we benefit from music?

Short CV

Before starting her PhD research, Bouwer spent over a decade on stage, as a performing clarinettist. She studied the clarinet at the Amsterdam Conservatory (Mmus, 2009), and appeared on stage as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. During her studies and career as a clarinettist, she became more and more fascinated by the human brain. After obtaining a master's degree in psychology (2011) at the University of Amsterdam, she pursued a PhD supervised by Prof. Henkjan Honing at the University of Amsterdam, examining the role of attention and expertise in musical rhythm processing 

After her PhD, Bouwer worked as a postdoctoral researcher at both the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), supervised by Prof. Heleen Slagter. During her time as a postdoc, Bouwer examined the relationship between expectations in time and rhythm and beat perception in the brain. Since 2023, Bouwer is an assistant professor in the Cognitive Psychology Unit at Leiden University. 

In addition to her work as a researcher, Bouwer is an enthusiastic teacher. She teaches courses at the bachelor and master level and is asked as a public speaker on a regular basis to bring science about the exceptional bond between humans and music to a wider public.

Grants and Awards

Research Grants:

• 2023 Impact Grant (UvA Psychology) - Pilot study examining music in dementia
• 2020 VENI Grant (NWO) - Rhythm processing 
• 2020 ABC Project Grant (Amsterdam Brain and Cognition) - Rhythm processing (Co-applicant)
• 2016 ABC Talent Grant (Amsterdam Brain and Cognition) - Rhythm processing

Other grants and awards:

• 2023 NWA WECOM (NWO) - Snaartjes, an interactive festival about science and music
• 2021 Science Communication By Scientists: Rewarded! (KNAW) - Toontjehoger (Co-applicant)
• 2017 Distinguished Women Scientists Fund (LNVH) - Research visit to Brain & Mind Institute, London, ON, Canada
• 2014 Best Pitch Award, Night of the Brain

Publications