Research performed by the Auditory and Vestibular Neurosciences group seeks to understand neural and perceptual mechanisms of hearing and balance, in both normal and pathological ears. The research effort is multidisciplinary and involves faculty in the Departments of Otolaryngology, Psychology and Communication Disorders. Group members' research interests include: molecular composition of the inner ear, neurophysiological studies of excitatory processes and functional electrical stimulation of the inner ear, quantitative studies of the vestibulo-ocular reflex, and perceptual processing of time-varying auditory signals. Group members also collaborate with other faculty on research involving auditory perception with cochlear implants, intensity coding, speech perception, and electrophysiological and biochemical studies of middle and inner ear function. Fully-equipped research laboratories provide students with specific training in anatomy/immunohistochemistry, single-unit and evoked-potential electrophysiology, psychophysical procedures, and computer-based data acquisition and analysis.

Graduate Program Faculty