Fredrik Ullén is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, since 2010. His research focuses on the neuropsychology of expertise and creativity, i.e. the various brain mechanisms that allow us to perform at a very high level within a specific field, using music as a model domain. Methodologically his team combines neuroimaging with experimental psychology and behavior genetic analyses. He is currently heading a larger research programme, Humans Making Music, that involves collaborations with the Swedish Twin Registry and other research groups both within and outside Sweden. In addition to his career as a scientist, Professor Ullén is active as a professional pianist. He has performed as a soloist in leading festivals and concert venues in most European countries, Canada, and the US.
He is represented on more than 20 CD records, many of which have received outstanding critics and awards from the international press. Professor Ullén is a lifetime fellow of the Swedish Royal Academy of Music since 2007.