Music & Medicine Research

Mentor Areas

My research focuses on disorders of hearing and balance. The research is clinical in nature and involves reviewing patient records and/or interviewing patients. You would work with an interdisciplinary team and learn about a very focused area of medicine. I have a strong interest in mentorship and have mentored students at all levels of medical training, from undergraduate students exploring an interest in medicine to postgraduate fellows applying for their first job. 

Description:

There are several lines of inquiry currently active in our pursuit to glean further insights into music perception after cochlear implantation. The goal would be for interested students to participate actively in the research, earning co-authorship in national presentations and publications in leading medical journals.  

1) Development of a comprehensive instrument for assessment of music experience in cochlear implant recipients 

- Background: There are numerous validated tests in existence to assess musical background, acuity, perception, appraisal, and appreciation amongst CI  users. However, each individual test is lengthy and tests one specific aspect of music experience in great detail. No current validated instrument exists to comprehensively and concisely evaluate the musical experience of CI users and track changes over time.

- Role: development of the instrument, recruitment (phone/email/in person), administration of the instrument, data analysis and abstract development, manuscript preparation  

2) Assessment of the impact of neural plasticity in music training for CI users

- Background: Numerous pilot studies have been performed to assess the utility of musical training for CI users in improving their music perception and appreciation/appraisal, with variable (but sometimes optimistic) results. Subject populations have been heterogeneous in the type of implant used and more importantly, in the user’s length of implant experience prior to training. Early postoperative exposure to music training may yield improved results compared to delayed exposure, the theory being that there is a “window of opportunity” to capitalize on neural plasticity in the postop period.

- Role: Development of training paradigm, recruitment (phone/email/in person), follow up with subjects performing training, data analysis and abstract development, manuscript preparation 

3) Role of fNIRS imaging for music perception in cochlear implantation 

- Background: Cochlear implantees cannot have a functional MRI scan while using their implant due to incompatibility of the implant with the MRI. However, they are able to undergo functional brain imaging with infra-red spectroscopy, a technology that quantifies blood flow to different regions of the brain using light waves. The goal of this project would be to imaging the brain in cochlear implant recipients in response to music vs noise vs speech to further assess how a cochlear implant recipient processes auditory information. 

- Role: Recruitment, test development and administration, data analysis and abstract development, manuscript preparation 

Preferred Qualifications

I am open-minded and interested in working with students of all backgrounds and ability levels. I feel it is my job to teach you and help you grow as a researcher and scholar. A curious mind and detail-oriented work ethic is required. A basic background in statistics and scientific literature search skills are very helpful but not required.  Additionally, I value organization, reliability, and proactive/closed-loop communication. 

My research students are expected to meet with me on a weekly or every-other-week basis depending on the stage of the project.