Faculty are listed by Department within their Research Areas,
with descriptions of their active projects.

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

TIM GARDNER, Assistant Professor of Biology; Ph.D.- Rockefeller University, NY.
Research Interests: The Gardner lab studies the assembly and function of neural circuits, focusing on the well-defined pathways for vocal learning in songbirds. A first priority is the quantitative description of vocal behavior. The lab also explores physiological recordings and circuit perturbations in singing birds, in-vivo imaging, and theoretical models for self-assembly of neural systems.

AYAKO YAMAGUCHI
Assistant Professor of Biology; PhD, University of California at Davis

Research Interests:We study how the CNS generate sexually differentiated behavior using vocalization of African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) as a model. We use behavioral, electrophysiological, anatomical, histochemical, and molecular biological techniques to understand how the central vocal pathways differ between males and females, and how these differences arise in response to steroid hormones.


DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

H. STEVEN COLBURN
Professor, Biomedical Engineering; PhD,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests:Dr.Colburn's research involves the application of signal processing, statistical communication theory, and computational modeling to the study of hearing and hearing impairments. He is particularly interested in the measurement and modeling of binaural hearing performance. He is also interested in human-machine interfaces for virtual environments and teleoperators.

DAVID C. MOUNTAIN, Jr.
Professor, Biomedical Engineering; Associate Research Professor,
Otolaryngology, School of Medicine; PhD, University of Wisconsin

Auditory information processing, sensory biophysics, computer simulation, biomedical electronics, biomedical signal and image processing.

Research Interests:Dr. Mountain's research centers around experimental and theoretical studies of hearing function including: cochlear biomechanics, otacoustic emissions, auditory processing of complex sounds, and auditory evoked potentials. Professor Mountain also collaborates with researchers from the Boston University Marine Program who are studying olfactory physiology and behavior.

KAMAL SEN
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering; PhD, Brandeis University

Research Interests: Our laboratory studies the neural coding of complex vocal communication sounds in songbirds, a model system that shows striking parallels to humans. We use electrophysiological techniques to record neural responses. Theoretical methods from areas such as statistical signal processing, systems theory, probability theory, and pattern recognition are applied to characterize how neurons in the brain encode natural sounds. We also use computational modeling to understand the processing of natural sounds, both at the single neuron and the network level.

HERBERT F. VOIGT
Professor, Biomedical Engineering; Associate Research Professor, Otolaryngology, School of Medicine; PhD, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interests:Dr. Voigt is currently engaged in experimental and theoretical studies of the neuronal circuitry in the cochlear nucleus. He uses single- and multi-unit recording and analysis techniques to study the responses of neurons and neural nets to acoustic stimulation. Other interests include brainstem auditory evoked responses and neural modeling of the cochlear nucleus.

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DEPARTMENT OF COGNITIVE AND NEURAL SYSTEMS

MICHAEL A. COHEN
Associate Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems and Computer Science; PhD, Harvard University

Research Interests:Neural network models of speech and language processing. Stability and instability of dynamical systems underlying neural networks. Models of memory, language comprehension, and auditory psychoacoustics, statistical neural network models of depression and cardiovascular control.

STEPHEN GROSSBERG
Wang Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Professor of Mathematics, Psychology, and Biomedical Engineering; Director,
Center for Adaptive Systems; Chairman, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems; PhD, Rockefeller University

Research Interests:Development of neural models of learning, recognition, memory, vision, audition, speech, cognition, reinforcement, attention, adaptive sensory-motor control, and biological rhythms. Systematic analysis and prediction of behavioral and brain data in both normal and clinical patients. Applications to outstanding technological problems.

FRANK GUENTHER
Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems; PhD,
Boston University

Research Interests:Areas of research include speech production, speech perception, and functional brain imaging. These areas are studied with an approach that combines computational and neural modeling with experimental investigations that test model performance and guide model development. Modeling efforts emphasize skill acquisition and flexible performance under a variety of environmental conditions.

BARBARA G. SHINN-CUNNINGHAM
Associate Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems and Biomedical Engineering; PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests:My research focuses on modeling auditory perception, with a special emphasis on binaural and spatial hearing, learning and plasticity in spatial perception, and multi-sensory interactions. The goal of this work is to develop physiologically-based, computational models that describe human and animal behavior. Perceptual experiments are used to test and refine these models.

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