Speech and Hearing Neuroscience Laboratory

Our objective is to understand the biological and neurobiological mechanisms that support the ability to communicate verbally, that is, to perceive and produce speech and voice, which are important building blocks of social interactions, and to use these skills to communicate efficiently is social contexts. The laboratory also aims to identify the factors that affect communication in aging, including cognitive aging, presbycusis and brain aging, and their impact on social interactions and communication-mediated activities. Finally, we aim to understand the factors that can positively affect communication in both normal and pathological aging, such as singing and voice training. Discovering the beneficial impacts of singing on speech, voice and cognition, and understanding the neuroplastic mechanisms that underlie these protective effects is key to developing and promoting ways to alleviate the negative impacts of aging on communication, social interactions and social participation.