NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Grants

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY Without movement, we would be unable to interact with the world. All behaviors, including speech, writing, reaching, grasping, gaze, walking and posture require the coordinated activities of many motor areas. Further, sensory signals provide essential feedback to these motor areas, enabling accurate motor control and learning, as well as providing information vital for deciding future behaviors. As a result, understanding the sensorimotor control of even the most basic movements, like orienting toward a sudden sound or reaching to pick up a glass of water, is complex. Damage to these sensorimotor pathways can produce a wide range of debilitating neurological disorders including tremor, Parkinson's disease, ataxia, dystonia, and spasticity - all of which markedly decrease quality of life. The Society for the Neural Control of Movement (NCM) is a community of scientists, clinician-investigators and trainees engaged in research whose common goal is to understand how the brain controls movement and to address the deficits that occur in disease. NCM promotes a broad range of research using interdisciplinary approaches (e.g., neurophysiological, anatomical, molecular, computational, and behavioral), different animal models, and studies of intact subjects and those with neurological disorders. The inaugural NCM Meeting took place in 1991. The success of the society and its annual meeting has led to a continual growth in membership, meeting attendance, and the breadth of scientific content. With support through the NIH, the 2026 NCM meeting will make substantive progress towards furthering three main goals of the society: Aim 1) Stimulate new research approaches and collaborations among NCM meeting attendees by identifying new topics and appropriate scientists as speakers, Aim 2) Facilitate participation in NCM programming, membership, & leadership, and Aim 3) Promote and support the development of the next generation of motor control researchers by providing financial and career support for graduate students and post- doctoral fellows. Overall, the unique format of the annual NCM meeting, with its focus on interdisciplinary approaches, discussion, and scientific interaction in an intimate meeting environment, is of immeasurable value to furthering understanding of how the brain controls movement in both health and disease.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) affects millions of children annually, causing otitis media that results in 30 million pediatric visits in the US. Current clinical practice leaves pediatricians with no treatment options when middle ear effusion is diagnosed, forcing months of observation during critical developmental periods or eventual surgical intervention. This project addresses this significant treatment gap by developing closed-loop control algorithms for the first point-of-care ETD treatment device using masseter reflex stimulation. The tensor veli palatini muscle opens the Eustachian tube through trigeminal nerve innervation. Masseter reflex stimulation provides a non-invasive pathway to trigger this mechanism, but clinical implementation faces a critical engineering challenge. Pediatric effusions vary dramatically in viscosity from thin serous fluids (1-2 centipoise) to thick glue ear consistency (500-2000+ centipoise), creating vastly different drainage requirements that cannot be determined visually during examination. This demands intelligent control systems that automatically discover optimal stimulation parameters without subjecting children to prolonged treatment attempts. This research will develop safe Bayesian optimization algorithms using computational fluid dynamics modeling to create adaptive therapeutic systems. Our approach employs finite element analysis to characterize stimulation-response relationships across the complete clinical viscosity spectrum, then implements Gaussian process surrogate models to efficiently navigate the three-dimensional parameter space of stimulation intensity, duration, and frequency. The closed-loop system uses real-time tympanometry feedback to iteratively optimize treatment protocols, converging on optimal parameters within 3 treatment attempts while maintaining established safety bounds for pediatric neuromuscular stimulation. The innovation represents the first closed-loop medical device for routine pediatric conditions requiring sophisticated multi-dimensional optimization algorithms that adapt to extreme biological variability. Success will deliver the computational framework essential for clinical translation of masseter reflex stimulation, enabling the first point-of-care treatment that restores hearing when effusion is diagnosed. This paradigm shift from passive observation to active intervention addresses the most common reason children seek medical care, potentially transforming pediatric otolaryngology by providing immediate therapeutic options during critical developmental periods when hearing loss has lasting developmental consequences.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Abstract We request funding to acquire the Interacoustics VisualEyes 525b rotary chair, videonystagmography (VNG) module, and the pediatric assessment kit to enhance interdisciplinary research and graduate training in vestibular science at the University of Memphis. This state-of-the-art system will replace our outdated and unserviceable unit, significantly expanding our capacity to investigate vestibular function across the lifespan, from infants to older adults, and to train the next generation of researchers and clinicians in audiology and related biomedical disciplines. The vestibular system is critical for balance and spatial orientation. Dysfunction in this system is a major independent risk factor for falls in older adults, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. In children, vestibular disorders are linked to delayed motor development, cognitive challenges, and poor academic performance. Despite its clinical importance, many existing diagnostic tools lack the sensitivity and precision to fully evaluate vestibular deficits. The requested system provides advanced capabilities, including sinusoidal harmonic acceleration, step velocity testing, oculomotor examination, and visual fixation suppression. These features enable detailed assessment of both peripheral and central vestibular function, which is not possible with our current equipment. Importantly, the requested system includes pediatric-compatible components that allow for safe and reliable testing in young children. This instrument will directly support the work of multiple research labs within the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, while also fostering collaboration across campus and regionally. The equipment will advance multiple NIH-relevant research initiatives, including: (1) vestibular function across the lifespan; (2) identification of physiological markers of vestibular dysfunction in clinical populations (e.g., Meniere’s disease and auditory neuropathy); (3) vestibular neuroplasticity; and (4) computational modeling of vestibular responses. At least four primary investigators with active research programs will use the system, with additional faculty integrating it into future projects. In addition to its research impact, the system will be fully integrated into graduate-level education. Over 40 Doctor of Audiology (AuD) and PhD students annually will receive hands-on training in advanced vestibular assessment, data acquisition, and interpretation. The system will support classroom instruction, lab demonstrations, and student-led capstone and dissertation projects. These educational experiences will build clinical competence and research proficiency. In summary, acquisition of the Interacoustics VisualEyes 525b system will strengthen the University of Memphis’s research infrastructure, promote interdisciplinary collaboration across audiology, neuroscience, engineering, and healthcare, and advance evidence-based approaches to vestibular education, and care.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary In its third installment, the Neural Mechanisms of Acoustic Communication (NMAC) Gordon Research Conference (GRC), along with the associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), will convene on May 30-June 5, 2026 at the Jordan River hotel in Sunday River, Maine to discuss and debate new findings in communication research and related fields. The NMAC GRC will enable investigators of all ranks with wide-ranging expertise and from a variety of sub-fields to interact, leveraging the intimate size and extended discussion time of the traditional GRC format to enable fertile scientific discourse. This meeting fulfills a unique niche within the landscape of existing conferences through its focus on comparative and mechanistic approaches to the study of neural circuits that mediate interactive vocal behavior across taxa that represent 800 million years of evolution. The interactive ability to exchange information is a central and defining feature of all communication systems and helps organize social behavior. As such, a comparative approach to the study of the neural mechanisms underlying acoustic communication lends insight into general mechanisms of neural function, leads to the development of novel analytical and experimental techniques and paves the way to novel treatments of dysfunction in human communication systems. The 2026 NMAC has three specific aims: 1) To advance acoustic communication research by offering an environment that encourages questions and discussion, challenges current thinking, identifies open questions, and provides opportunities for new collaborations; 2) to create a unique forum for interaction for researchers with different perspectives on acoustic communication and break down boundaries that exist between communities focused on different model systems, brain regions, and research approaches; and 3) to educate new and early career investigators. To provide greater opportunities for impactful junior scientists, we are including “next generation talks” where the chairs will pick 4 graduate students or postdocs from the GRS to present at the GRC meeting. In addition, at least 2 talks per session will be selected from submitted abstracts with the aim to feature early career researchers, including graduate students, postdocs, and assistant professors. Mentorship opportunities will include themed lunches where 1-3 scientists informally discuss topics of interest with graduate students and postdoctoral scientists, such as securing a postdoctoral or faculty job, starting a laboratory, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Taken together, NMAC aims to create conversations that will achieve a mechanistic and unifying understanding of the neural underpinnings of acoustic communication by uncovering broadly relevant algorithms and general principles. These exchanges will advance acoustic communication research by encouraging new ideas and collaborations, highlighting excellence in the field, and inspiring the next generation of scientists to accelerate the pace of discovery and translation to the clinic, consistent with the mission of NIH.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of ultrasound as a real-time visual feedback tool to assess and treat speech sound disorders, voice, and swallowing difficulties. However, there are no opportunities for Speech-Language Pathologists to collaboratively learn how to use the technology, to access expert consensus, or to immerse themselves in the active clinical research climate that surrounds ultrasound. Because conferences allow for knowledge dissemination, high-quality training opportunities, and professional connections, this is a key moment to hold a clinically-focused conference for Speech-Language Pathologists. The goal of this R13 application is to establish a conference (“UltraSLP”) concerning ultrasound use in the Speech Language Pathology field, recurring over two years. By prioritizing evidence-based knowledge transmission, this conference aligns with NIDCD goals of supporting research and research training related to disease prevention and health promotion. UltraSLP draws on the substantial ultrasound clinical research presence of the University of Cincinnati and its collaborative host, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, to attract clinicians from around the country, representative of different regions, populations, and clinical practice types. The conference's central location in Cincinnati, OH is easily accessible. As an Implementation-Science (IS) conference, UltraSLP promotes researcher-clinician partnerships by including a data gathering plan before and after the conference, prioritizing clinician perspectives in conference plans, including round-table sessions for clinician-researcher discussions, and connecting interested attendees with post-conference mentorship. Pre- post conference surveys and mentorship conversations will provide generalizable data to understand the context, needs, and individual factors influencing successful ultrasound integration in existing clinical workflows. UltraSLP's format is designed for participation by working clinicians, featuring a short conference duration (two days), low conference registration fees, scholarships for working clinicians to defray the cost of attendance, and the opportunity to earn continuing education credits. The primary purpose of this conference grant proposal is to request funding for conference attendance for working clinicians, family care support, and administrative support for the coordination of the UltraSLP conference. Support from the NIDCD will enable UltraSLP to foster new partnerships in clinical innovation through an evidence-based technology that has demonstrated potential to improve outcomes for individuals with disorders of speech and swallowing.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Conference Title: WINTER CONFERENCE TO ADVANCE NEW APPROACH METHODOLOGIES (NAMS) IN CHEMOSENSORY SCIENCE Chemosensory and interoception research still relies on animal models, despite the national momentum to reduce, refine, and replace in vivo testing. To accelerate the adoption of non-animal alternatives, we will convene an inaugural four-day conference (Jan 12-17, 2027, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA) that integrates lectures, interactive workshops, and networking sessions focused on in vitro, ex vivo, and in silico NAMs relevant to taste, smell, and interoception. This meeting, to be held annually (2027 to 2031), will bring together ~100 academic investigators, industry scientists, regulators, and trainees, including at least 30 early-career scholars, to create a cross-sector forum for exchanging best practices and catalyzing collaborations. Program elements include: 1. Plenary Sessions highlighting breakthroughs in organoid models (e.g., oral, nasal, gut), high- throughput receptor assays, and AI-enabled chemosensory prediction tools. 2. Hands-on NAM Workshops led by Monell and external experts, covering receptor-based assays and organoid model development, transitional models aimed at reducing animals in research (e.g., ex vivo, in ovo), direct human measures (e.g., behavioral, EEG and fMRI) and machine learning pipelines for data integration and modelling. 3. Regulatory & Ethics Panels featuring scientists on validation standards and pathways for scientific and regulatory acceptance. 4. Trainee Lightning Talks & Mentoring to foster presentation skills and career development. 5. Industry Roundtable with chemosensory scientists, food, fragrance, and biotech companies to identify appropriate NAM uses, translational gaps, and commercialization opportunities. By the conference’s end, participants will: (i) understand the state of the art in NAMs and their potential application for chemosensory and interoception research, (ii) acquire practical skills to incorporate NAMs into grant proposals and product development and testing pipelines, and (iii) contribute to a consensus white paper outlining research priorities, prime applications and validation needs. All slide decks and workshop protocols will be posted on an open-access website; abstracts will also be publicly available. Evaluation surveys will track knowledge gains and subsequent adoption of NAM. This information will be leveraged to invite early NAMs adopters to participate in the Winter Conference in years 2-5. R13 support will offset meeting logistics, trainee travel awards, captioning for accessibility, and post-meeting dissemination, ensuring broad reach and sustained impact across academia, industry, and federal agencies.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary/Abstract Successful communication is dependent on a multitude of intricately coordinated skills that facilitate connections between interlocutors, including prosody, or the rhythm, rate, and intonation of speech. Speech rhythm, specifically, is critical for communicating intent and enhancing speech comprehension through predictable, regularly-timed beats. Without rhythm, speech lacks the temporal guideposts that instruct the listener what to listen for and when, leading to miscommunications (i.e., “let’s eat, mom!” vs. “let’s eat mom!”). Amongst autistic individuals and their first-degree relatives, prosody, and speech rhythm specifically, has been identified as a salient contributor to social communication differences. Parallel findings have been reported in fragile X syndrome (FXS; the leading monogenetic cause of autism) and in FMR1 premutation (PM) carriers, who show similar but less striking rhythmic variability. Together, these findings suggest a shared, heritable, neurobiological mechanism underpinning speech and higher-order language skills impacted in autism, and linked to a known autism risk gene. Importantly, recent acoustic research has revealed links between rhythmic variability, speech rate, and FMR1-mediated molecular-genetic variation in females with FXS, who are largely understudied in FXS research and tend to show less cognitive impairment than males. Notably, recent work in autism has pointed to differences in cortical processing of continuous speech, whereas studies in FXS and the PM have identified articulatory abnormalities, as potential perceptual and speech-motor mediators of speech-rhythm differences, but their associations with speech rhythm remain largely unexplored. As such, evaluating the perception and production of continuous speech in relation to speech rhythmicity in FMR1-mediated conditions is a critical next step towards understanding the role of FMR1 in autism-related phenotypes. Further, exploring speech rhythm in females with FXS and the PM will allow for greater characterization of the neural and speech-motor mechanisms contributing to a broad spectrum of FMR1-mediated speech and language profiles, from clinically to sub-clinically affected, without the confounding impact of intellectual impairment. Given mounting evidence of impacted cortical speech processing and speech-motor differences in autism, as well as speech-motor incoordination in FMR1 conditions, we hypothesize that speech rhythmicity may be disrupted across in females with FXS and the PM and contribute to pragmatic language differences. Moreover, we hypothesize that differences in speech rhythm are differentially mediated by domain-general rhythmicity, speech-motor coordination, cortical speech perception, and rooted in underlying variation in FMR1-mediated molecular-genetic correlates. If completed, the proposed study has potential to provide key insights into the role of a known genetic mutation in the autism language phenotype with relevance to future behavioral interventions.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Language Sample Analysis (LSA) is the gold standard for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to evaluate functional communication, but manual annotation is slow and inconsistent, taking 7–8 minutes per minute of speech. This bottleneck delays interventions and exacerbates workforce strain, with 55% of SLPs reporting excessive caseloads. Existing tools such as SALT, CLAN, and Whisper offer only partial automation and lack comprehensive, multi-layer analysis. With the U.S. speech therapy market valued at $4.62 billion in 2023 and projected to grow to $8.37 billion by 2032 (CAGR 6.9%), there is strong demand for efficient, scalable, and clinically useful technologies that address SLP workflow needs. We propose SATE (Speech Annotation and Transcription Enhancer), an AI-powered platform that automates multi-layer LSA with high accuracy and usability. SATE delivers precise annotations across word- and phoneme-level transcription, C-unit segmentation, phonetic analysis (e.g., mispronunciation detection), maze identification (pauses, repetitions, filler words), morpheme and syllable analysis, and grammar evaluation. Outputs are presented in interactive reports with dynamic visualization and enable real-time editing, enabling efficient review and refinement for SLPs. The system leverages both a proprietary dataset and multiple public corpora (e.g., ENNI, L2-ARCTIC, Rescorla, UltraSuite) to ensure robustness across linguistic accents, dialects, and demographic groups. Phase I will validate technical performance on typical and disordered speech, targeting ≥0.8 sensitivity and specificity (95% CI), and assess usability and adoption through participatory studies with 20 SLPs and heuristic evaluation by 8 HCI experts. Success will be defined by robust annotation accuracy, strong usability ratings, and preliminary evidence of financial feasibility. By reducing the time, effort, and variability of LSA, SATE will expand service capacity, alleviate clinician burden, and improve access to high-quality speech and language evaluation. Completion of Phase I will provide the technical, clinical, and commercial foundation for Phase II validation, workflow integration, and SaaS-based commercialization, positioning SATE to transform LSA and strengthen speech and language service delivery.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remain minimally verbal beyond early childhood despite intensive services. For these families, options often don’t fit daily life: augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) apps are hard to personalize and rely on context-poor static symbols, while video modeling requires filming and editing—slow, costly steps that limit generalization and home use. Caregivers, therefore, struggle to deliver frequent, motivating practice tailored to real routines. Our proposed solution, Young Speaker, an iOS-compatible software platform, is intended to tackle these barriers by unifying two well-supported ideas: video modeling and AAC, into a single workflow that creates highly personalized practice materials in minutes. Caregivers select goals tied to everyday routines (e.g., “more juice,” “go outside”), and the app uses an easy avatar creator, templated social stories, and AI-assisted prompts to produce short, child-relevant videos and practice sequences featuring the child’s own avatar and familiar settings, representing the key innovative features of our approach. A lightweight dashboard tracks use, goal attempts, and responses to support data- informed adjustments while keeping privacy protections front and center. STTR Phase I will deliver an iPad/web prototype of Young Speaker with core features (goal-setting tools, avatar creation, and content builders) and conduct two formative evaluations. First, a lab-based usability cycle with approximately 15 parent caregivers/educators will identify pain points and drive rapid refinements using standard usability scales and brief interviews. Second, a one-month home feasibility study with about 15 parent–child dyads (elementary-age, minimally verbal) will examine feasibility, acceptability, and real-world engagement: families will complete onboarding, create at least one avatar and practice content, and run 10–15 minute sessions twice daily during natural routines. App analytics (dose and content created), brief pre-/post- questionnaires, and exit interviews will inform product fit, caregiver workflow, and measurement procedures for a subsequent Phase II efficacy trial. The expected deliverables are an optimized prototype, evidence of feasibility and acceptability, finalized user and outcome measures, and a clear plan for Phase II testing. By lowering production burden and elevating personal relevance, Young Speaker aims to empower caregivers and educators to provide frequent, motivating practice that supports meaningful gains in functional communication at home and school, with a commercialization pathway through school-district licensing, direct-to-consumer offerings, and Medicaid waiver channels. Young Speaker will be marketed as an educational/skill-building tool (no diagnosis/treatment claims) and is not expected to require FDA premarket review; if future versions add speech-generating device capabilities or therapeutic claims, we will pursue the appropriate Class II pathway (e.g., 510(k)/De Novo) in consultation with FDA.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary Our sensory environment is rich with cues that influence behavior, particularly those related to food. Among these, olfactory cues are especially powerful, often initiating aspects of feeding behavior before the reception of visual stimuli. However, how these olfactory cues are processed and modulated by internal physiological states, such as satiety, remains poorly understood. I propose that the olfactory system integrates satiety signals to dynamically modulate odor processing and ultimately feeding behavior. This proposal focuses on glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), a satiety hormone produced in the hindbrain, which projects to olfactory structures including the piriform cortex (PCx). In aim 1 I will characterize the anatomical and functional connectivity between GLP-1-producing neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract and the PCx. Furthermore, I will determine how GLP-1 signaling modulates excitatory and inhibitory drive onto PCx pyramidal neurons using patch clamp electrophysiology. In aim 2 I will use in vivo calcium imaging to determine how GLP-1 receptor activation modulates food related odor-driven behavior and olfactory representations in olfactory bulb and PCx output neurons. The fellowship training plan will provide me with advanced technical skills in systems neuroscience, including optical and electrophysiological recording, chemogenetic and optogenetic circuit manipulation, and behavioral analysis. Additional training will include computational approaches to sensory coding, professional development activities, grant writing, and structured mentorship. Research and training will take place in Dr. Joseph Zak’s lab at the University of Illinois Chicago, a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment with strong institutional neuroscience programs. This setting will equip the applicant to transition to an independent academic research career focused on the neural basis of motivated behavior and metabolic disorders. Together, these experiments will reveal the circuit and synaptic mechanisms through which internal state shapes olfactory processing, providing new insights into the neural basis of feeding behavior and potential targets for mitigating maladaptive eating.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Nearly 20% of school-age children have a communication disorder that limits their ability to participate in daily life, such as classroom discussions or conversations with peers at school. Speech-Language Pathologists are essential for improving the communication of children with communication disorders in schools. Intervening during the school-age developmental period (ages 5-12) is key to leveraging the cognitive, social, and linguistic growth that occurs during this time. Targeting communicative participation (i.e., the child’s ability to communicate while taking part in everyday life) has been documented as an effective approach to support children’s communication and well-being. Directly supporting communicative participation is critical to prioritizing meaningful life participation as a key focus of speech/language intervention. However, less than 1/5 of Speech- Language Pathologists focus their intervention on supporting communicative participation. The research-to- practice gap is clear: researchers have developed a guide that describes how to target communicative participation as an intervention outcome (Baylor & Darling-White, 2020), but this guide is not being used with school-age children with communication disorders. This proposal aims to address this gap by examining the barriers and facilitators influencing Speech-Language Pathologists’ use of communicative participation intervention outcomes (Aim 1) and analyzing Speech-Language Pathologists’ proposed adaptations to the communicative participation intervention guide (Aim 2). By using an implementation science approach, this project directly aligns with the NIDCD Notice of Special Interest in Implementation Science in Communication Disorders (NOT-DC-24-024) and Theme 4 of the NIDCD Strategic Plan (Translate and implement scientific advances into standard clinical care). We will use a convergent mixed methods approach that combines the findings of an online survey (quantitative; Aim 1) and focus groups (qualitative; Aim 2). By partnering with school- based Speech-Language Pathologists, we aim to understand the barriers and facilitators to using these intervention outcomes in schools and adapt the intervention guide based on their direct input. This research will lay the groundwork for future studies focused on reducing the barriers, elevating the facilitators, and implementing the communicative participation intervention guide in school settings with children with communication disorders. Focusing on the Speech-Language Pathologists’ critical role in supporting communicative participation will ultimately benefit the many school-age children currently struggling to express their ideas and communicate in everyday situations at school.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Neural circuits allow animals to gather various types of sensory information from the complex environment and integrate this information to produce the appropriate behavioral responses. To decide whether to ingest potential food substances, animals must discriminate between nutrients and toxins. To this end, they integrate sensory information, such as taste, smell, texture, temperature, and visual cues, with internal states, such as hunger and satiety. It is well established that the integration of taste and smell, perceived as flavor in humans, is especially important for food discrimination. However, the precise points of integration between the taste and smell circuits remain unknown in humans due to the complexity of the nervous system. Studies monitoring feeding behavior upon smell stimulation in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, suggest that the taste and smell circuits also integrate in the fly. Since the neural circuits in fruit flies are simpler than those in humans, flies are an ideal organism for evaluating the anatomical and functional connections between taste and smell. Our laboratory has developed trans-Tango, a method for neural circuit mapping and manipulation in fruit flies. Using trans-Tango, we mapped the first and second-order neurons in the taste and smell circuits, showing that gustatory receptor neurons, which detect tastants, and olfactory receptor neurons, which detect odors, relay information to gustatory and olfactory projection neurons, respectively. Some of these projection neurons target the same higher-order brain areas, suggesting the possibility that shared neurons exist that integrate sensory inputs from both systems to influence feeding behavior. This proposal takes a two-pronged approach to investigate the integration of the gustatory and olfactory circuits. First, I will test how olfactory inputs affect feeding by activating, or silencing, olfactory projection neurons tuned to food-derived odors. In these studies, I will use the OptoPAD paradigm to measure feeding. I hypothesize that activating neurons tuned to attractive odors would enhance feeding, while activating those tuned to aversive odors would suppress it. Second, I will identify neurons in the lateral horn that receive inputs from both gustatory and olfactory projection neurons and integrate these inputs to produce the appropriate feeding responses. To this end, I have been developing trans-Tango(hub), a tool for identifying circuit nodes of integration. My experiments will determine whether these nodes maintain the valence of the stimuli. Further, since the gustatory and olfactory systems in insects and mammals are functionally homologous, identifying the mechanisms of this multisensory integration in fruit flies will provide insight into how the perception of flavor is formed in humans. This is crucial for understanding the pathologies associated with olfactory deficiencies, such as anosmia and hyposmia, and gustatory deficiencies, such as ageusia. Finally, this research program is at the core of a training plan that includes activities to develop professional skills for preparing Angel Okoro for a career in academic research.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY Reading is a crucial skill for quality of life in modern society but is impaired in at least 1.5 million Americans following stroke.1,2 Acquired reading impairments (alexia) have life-altering impact, because they prevent return to work, access to healthcare information, and maintenance of social relationships.31–35 Prior research on reading aloud overwhelmingly dominates current understanding of the role of lexical features in alexia while overlooking silent reading comprehension, despite evidence that these two reading modalities can dissociate and may rely on different mechanisms.3-8 Silent reading comprehension is the dominant reading modality in daily life and is preferred over reading aloud by adult readers,35 highlighting its significance as a healthcare priority. The proposed project aims to examine mechanisms of silent reading comprehension impairment in people with alexia applying a seminal theoretical reading comprehension framework – the Lexical Quality Hypothesis (LQH). The LQH posits that differences in reading comprehension skill can be attributed to variations in the quality of individuals’ lexical representations (i.e., word knowledge). Lexical representations can be influenced by lexical features and individual differences in bottom-up linguistic resources(e.g., phonological decoding, vocabulary size). High-quality lexical representations result in higher reading accuracy and automatic lexical retrieval, thereby facilitating integration of the individual words into the surrounding text and liberating cognitive resources for high-level linguistic skills (e.g., syntactic parsing). 9-12 This proposal applies these principles of the LQH framework to alexia to shed light on the underlying nature of silent reading comprehension impairments. Specific Aim 1 evaluates the impact of lexical features related to orthography, semantics, and phonology on silent reading comprehension accuracy and eye-movement behaviors. Specific Aim 2 explores how bottom-up linguistic skills relate to silent reading comprehension of connected texts, and how these individual differences moderate the influence of lexical features on eye-movements. Data from an archival reading assessment study and an ongoing eye-tracking while reading study will be leveraged to address these aims. This study represents the first systematic investigation on the role of lexical features and individual differences on silent reading comprehension in alexia. Results from this study will provide insight into which lexical properties can serve as predictors for item-difficulty in reading assessments and establish preliminary evidence for how to individualize silent reading comprehension interventions. Through this fellowship, the applicant will acquire scientific training, technical expertise, and professional skills that will propel her toward a career as an independent clinician-scientist specialized in alexia assessment and intervention.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary/Abstract Difficulty using morphemes of tense and agreement (e.g., The girl sits, The dog barked) during the preschool years is a hallmark symptom of developmental language disorder (DLD). Children with DLD omit these mor- phemes more often and for a longer period of time than children with typical language development (TLD). The mechanistic factors driving the difficulty in acquiring consistent use of these morphemes in DLD are not well understood. Network science is a complex systems approach that models how simple relationships (known as edges) between items (known as nodes) in a network give rise to complex patterns of behavior. Network ap- proaches to language have indicated that the network structure of different language sub-systems (semantics, phonology, syntax) explains variability in language skills that traditional language measures cannot. Although difficulty using grammatical morphemes during the preschool years is a key indicator of DLD, network science has not yet been applied to examine the link between structural representations of morphosyntax and produc- tive morphosyntactic abilities. To address this gap, the current objective is to build morphosyntactic networks of preschool-aged children with DLD and TLD that explain differences in morphosyntactic productivity. The cen- tral hypothesis is that the networks of children with stronger language skills will have structural signatures driven primarily by linguistic skills that support morphosyntactic development. First, morphosyntactic networks (i.e., networks that model grammatical relationships between words and bound morphemes such as -s and - ed) will be built from spontaneous speech of preschoolers with TLD and DLD to determine structural properties of a group morphosyntactic network (Aim 1). The hypothesis is that the morphosyntactic network will have high connectivity like other networks of natural language systems. Next, regression analysis will be used to examine how within-group (TLD and DLD) individual differences in language skills known to support the development of morphosyntax predict the structure of the morphosyntactic network (Aim 2). The hypothesis is that the predic- tors of structural differences in the morphosyntactic networks will be different between TLD and DLD given that morphosyntax is a key area of difficulty in DLD during the preschool years. Whether the hypotheses are sup- ported or refuted, this work will advance the field’s understanding of how differences in productive morphosyn- tax in healthy and disordered language development may be related to the underlying structure of these repre- sentations. This work will advance the field by establishing a framework by which to study morphosyntax in a comprehensive way that fully considers the complexity of tense and agreement and how it develops. Addition- ally, the technical and professional research skills I will acquire through completion of these aims will enhance my clinical SLP training to position me for an impactful career as an independent language scientist program- matically focused on a mechanist approach to language acquisition and treatment in cases of disorder.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary/Abstract Objectives: Blood-Labyrinthine Barrier (BLB) dysfunction is implicated in a range of inner ear disorders (BLB- IEDs), including Meniere's disease, autoimmune inner ear disease, and sensorineural hearing loss. These conditions disrupt inner ear fluid homeostasis, leading to vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and imbalance. The BLB comprises microvascular endothelial cells, pericytes, and perivascular-resident macrophage-like melanocytes (PVM/Ms), which are essential for auditory and vestibular function. This project aims to investigate the role of the BLB in inner ear homeostasis and disease pathophysiology while developing hiPSC-based models to identify therapeutic targets. Research Design: Using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology, we will model BLB-specific microvascular interactions and explore novel therapeutic interventions. Our approach focuses on generating hiPSC-derived BLB pericyte spheroids by directing neural crest stem cells toward a pericyte fate using vestibular neuronal spheroid-conditioned medium (VNS-CM). Additionally, we will develop hiPSC-derived PVM/M spheroids by differentiating yolk sac macrophage-like cells into BLB-specific PVM/Ms. These models will be integrated into advanced microfluidic devices to create physiologically relevant 3D BLB spheroids, laying the groundwork for BLB assembloid development in future R01 studies. Methodology: We will characterize BLB-specific structural, molecular, and functional properties of hiPSC- derived pericytes and PVM/Ms using advanced imaging, molecular biology, and functional assays. Structural characterization will involve transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine ultrastructural features. Molecular profiling will be conducted through immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR to confirm BLB-specific gene and protein expression. Functional validation will include transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and dextran permeability assays to assess barrier integrity, as well as cytokine response assays to evaluate BLB-selective properties under inflammatory conditions. By integrating stem cell engineering and microfluidic technologies, we will construct 3D spheroids that replicate BLB molecular and functional characteristics, providing a robust platform for disease modeling, mechanistic studies, and therapeutic screening for BLB-IEDs. Clinical Relevance: By addressing a critical gap in BLB research, this project will advance our understanding of BLB dysfunction across multiple inner ear disorders. Our hiPSC-derived models will facilitate drug screening for patient-specific responses to treatments such as diuretics, histamine modulators, and corticosteroids, reducing the current trial-and-error approach. Additionally, these assembloids will enable disease modeling of BLB-IEDs, offering new insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic development. This research aligns directly with the NIDCD's mission to support biomedical and behavioral research in hearing and balance disorders, ultimately improving public health and quality of life.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary/Abstract Prosody is a salient feature of speech that helps listeners anticipate when the most informative parts of a message will occur, facilitating comprehension. Prosodic impairments are linked to language deficits across disorders, yet prosody is largely absent from neural models of language processing. This proposal addresses this gap by investigating how neural tracking of prosody allows listeners to anticipate the expected informativity of upcoming words, engaging cortico-subcortical mechanisms to support linguistic processing and memory encoding. We overcome limitations of prior behavioral and scalp EEG work based on artificial paradigms, by leveraging intracranial EEG (iEEG) and machine learning (ML) to measure the contribution of subcortical structures to naturalistic comprehension. The mentored phase will involve intensive analyses of iEEG data from neurosurgical patients listening to naturalistic stories. Aim 1 tests whether prosodic tracking enhances the encoding of phonetic, semantic and syntactic features throughout the temporal lobe. Aim 2 investigates whether prosodic tracking supports memory encoding by modulating hippocampal theta (2.5–5 Hz). During the independent phase, I will combine naturalistic and factorial designs to orthogonalize prosodic cues and actual informativity (semantic surprisal). Aim 3 will dissociate how the brain tracks prosody to prepare for greater information load, from how it predicts and responds to the content of that information. The proposed work will advance neurolinguistic models by identifying the understudied key role of prosody as a cue to expected informativity. It will also contribute to ongoing debates on whether the hippocampus supports language processing, and how this interacts with its established role in memory encoding. I will achieve my long-term goal of launching an independent research career in speech neuroscience through critical new training during the mentored phase, addressing two key gaps. First, I need to move beyond controlled psycholinguistic paradigms by mastering the use of ML methods to study the processing of naturalistic speech. Second, I need to develop a deeper understanding of systems neuroscience, acquiring new theoretical background and methodological skills for the analysis of high-resolution imaging methods such as iEEG. This project integrates ML tools and iEEG with my prior background in psycholinguistics and scalp EEG, advancing a highly innovative approach that takes advantage of the benefits of multiple methods. I will receive exceptional training by working with Dr. Gwilliams, a pioneer in the application of ML for speech neuroscience, and Dr. Parvizi, a leader in use of iEEG. Stanford is an ideal training environment, as a hub for collaborative research between neuroscientists and clinician-scientists across the country. Joining this collaborative network will ensure I will continue to have access to iEEG or other high-resolution methods at the R00 institution. In sum, this proposal offers a novel neurocognitive framework for how prosody guides processing of the most informative parts of speech, laying the groundwork for understanding how disruptions in this system contribute to communication disorders.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

The K99/R00 Award will support my transition to an independent researcher focused on using repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to enhance post-stroke aphasia recovery. The majority of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) studies, including those using rTMS, apply facilitatory stimulation to the left Inferior Frontal Gyrus (IFG) or inhibitory stimulation to its right homologue. While IFG is an important hub, the language system is widespread and complex, and its damage induce impairments that vary significantly across individuals. For instance, post-stroke aphasia often leads to anomia and semantic errors due to disruption in lexicosemantic processes. I propose to use a novel and promising target for stimulation – the Anterior Temporal Lobe (ATL) – given that evidence suggests that it plays a crucial role in lexicosemantic processing and hence may be pivotal in individuals with such impairment. Additionally, the theory of transcallosal interhemispheric imbalance hypothesize that brain lesions cause hyperactivation of the undamaged hemisphere and hypoactivation of the damaged one, justifying left hemispheric (LH) facilitation and right hemispheric (RH) inhibition. However, this model does not fully explain the complex involvement of the RH in post-stroke aphasia recovery. Furthermore, while rTMS shows promise in improving post-stroke language impairments, individual responses vary, necessitating a better understanding of factors influencing its efficacity. To address these gaps, I propose a three-arm randomized clinical trial involving 60 individuals with post-stroke aphasia. The study will compare facilitatory rTMS targeting the left ATL, inhibitory rTMS targeting the right ATL, and sham stimulation. By tailoring rTMS targets to participants’ clinical profiles, we aim to improve language processing outcomes (Aim 1). I will investigate how RH inhibition versus LH facilitation affects language recovery. Using resting-state and task-based functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), I will explore the mechanisms underlying each stimulation type and assess the relevance of the theory of transcallosal interhemispheric imbalance (Aim 2). I will also study how lesion localization and neural disconnections influence responses to brain stimulation using lesion- and connectome- symptom mapping (LSM/CSM) techniques (Aim 3). This research builds on my Ph.D. work, which focused on tailoring rTMS to specific post-stroke language impairments and extends it to address lexicosemantic impairments. The K99 phase will primarily develop my expertise in fMRI and LSM/CSM methodologies, supporting my progression to independent scientist in the R00 phase and enabling future investigations into NIBS for aphasia recovery, improving outcomes and understanding the underlying mechanisms of these stimulations.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY Animals live in an interconnected social world and must interact adaptively with other organisms. Such interactions require translating complex multisensory profiles of other animals into appropriate behavioral responses. How the nervous system integrates socially relevant multisensory information to build internal representations of others and enact ecologically relevant behaviors is largely unknown. The goal of this project is to elucidate behavioral computations and neural mechanisms that organisms use to integrate salient multisensory features of other animals. I will use the rove beetle species, Dalotia coriaria, a newly developed genetically and experimentally tractable system. Dalotia is highly suited to investigate multisensory mechanisms that enable social interactions because 1) it is genetically amenable to neural manipulation and has a relatively small brain, and 2) possess a highly flexible abdomen that it engages during a variety of animal social interactions. The movement of its abdomen is a major, yet simple to observe and quantify, behavioral readout of the neural decision-making processes that occur when the beetle encounters different types of animals. I will first use three-dimensional tracking and novel machine learning approaches, such as neurosymbolic artificial intelligence, to classify the behavioral modules and stereotyped response patterns of Dalotia while interacting with a range of other species. I will then use a “beetle-on-a-ball” virtual reality setup to deconstruct the chemical and tactile sensory components of each organism and define the integration rules the describe how behavior is altered in unisensory verse multisensory conditions. Next, I will use gas chromatography electroantennogram recordings and in vivo 2-photon calcium imaging from the brain to identify multisensory representations of other species. Using an interdisciplinary approach, cutting-edge machine learning and computational ethology methods, and simultaneous neural and behavioral recordings, this project will uncover how animals build representations of other organisms from complex multisensory profiles. I will receive interdisciplinary technical and conceptual training from an advisory team of experts in the fields of neuroethology, chemical ecology, machine learning, and electrophysiology, which will prepare me for a successful transition to independent investigator.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Neurological disorders are the leading source of disability globally, and Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. The gold standard of care for treating dysarthria are behavioral interventions, or “speaker strategies,” that reduce or compensate for the underlying speech deficits to improve listener understandability. The speech of people PD (hypokinetic dysarthria) typically sounds mumbled and rapid, which inform the two primary targets for intervention: clear speech and slow speech. Another speaker strategy involves using simple language. While not directly tied to the underlying speech deficit, it supports the listeners' ability to recognize words, thus compensating for the degraded acoustics. While people with hypokinetic dysarthria demonstrate the ability to use these speaker strategies in the clinic and in controlled research contexts, strategy use does not generalize to their everyday conversations. Here, we proposal to exploit the natural process of entrainment, in which people adapt their speech and language behaviors to align with the same behaviors of their communication partner. This entrainment of behavior has been demonstrated in many different aspects of speech and language, including articulatory precision, speech rate, and word choice. It is also predictive of broader measures of communication success. The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which, and under what circumstances (clear speech, slow speech, simple language), patients with hypokinetic dysarthria entrain to, or align to the patterns of, communication partners (i.e., confederates) who are intentionally using those strategies. Grounded in the interactive alignment model, we hypothesize automatic entrainment to the speech and language behavior produced by a confederate would facilitate improved communication of the participant with PD, specifically making it easier and more natural for them to use clear speech, slow speech, or simple language in the conversation. We also expect benefits to extend beyond greater use of the strategy, to greater communicative efficiency and conversational satisfaction. This proposal sets the stage for an innovative and much needed extension of dysarthria management to include the communication partner in intervention. Toward that end, 30 participants with mild to moderate hypokinetic dysarthria associated with PD will be instructed to use a designated speaker strategy. They will then engage in a controlled conversational task (Diapix task), which involves collaborative problem-solving, with two different confederates – one who will also use the selected strategy (manipulation), the other confederate will not (control), for a total of 6 conditions. We will assess the impact of strategy use by the confederate (relative to no strategy use) on the participant with PD with regards to quantitative speech and language changes, communicative effectiveness, and conversational satisfaction. This work will tap into the potential of entrainment to facilitate the carryover of speaker strategies to conversation, and thus improve real world communication for people with PD.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary Humans can be exposed to infrasound (IS), defined as low-frequency sound waves below 20 Hz, through both natural and artificial sources. Whether IS exposure affects human health remains highly controversial. Individuals living near IS sources often report symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, ear pressure, nausea, tinnitus, and headaches, potentially linked to vestibular dysfunction. However, no studies have demonstrated whether IS directly activates the vestibular system or whether long-term IS exposure causes vestibular dysfunction. This project seeks to address this knowledge gap by investigating the physiological effects of IS exposure on the vestibular system using a rodent model. The application brings together the combined expertise of two highly specialized teams. The team in the National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA) at the University of Mississippi offers extensive experience in designing and testing enclosures capable of generating high-amplitude infrasound and low-frequency audible signals with precision. The team in the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) contributes its expertise in studying sound-evoked vestibular responses in animal models. The project proposes two specific aims: Aim 1: Design and construct an enclosure to expose animals to precisely controlled and calibrated high-amplitude IS and low-frequency sound (NCPA). Aim 2: Utilize the enclosure developed in Aim 1 to investigate the effects of IS exposure on the vestibular system in rats (UMMC). This includes studying the impacts of a single IS stimulation on vestibular function by measuring vestibular afferent activities, as well as assessing whether chronic IS exposure induces vestibular dysfunction and structural changes. The findings from this study will provide critical, evidence-based insights into the mechanisms underlying IS-related vestibular symptoms.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY This project aims to uncover the circuit and computational mechanisms that support olfactory perception. Odors evoke spatially distributed patterns of activity across olfactory bulb (OB) glomeruli, which in turn drive temporally structured responses in mitral and tufted cells (MTCs), the OB’s output neurons. These responses are shaped by local inhibitory circuits before reaching higher-order regions such as the piriform cortex (PCx). However, how spatiotemporal OB activity is organized, transformed by local interactions, and decoded by the PCx remains unclear. I will combine two-photon calcium imaging with fast GCaMP8 indicators, patterned optogenetics, and large-scale silicon probe recordings to study these dynamics in awake mice. Aim 1 (K99 phase) will determine how glomerular input and MTC output sequences are structured during odor responses. I will test whether the temporal order of glomerular activation predicts MTC excitability, shaped by lateral inhibition. I will map functional glomerulus to MTC connectivity and relate temporal features to odor tuning. Aim 2 (K99) will probe how recurrent MTC interactions shape odor representations. Using a novel all- optical method combining 2P stimulation and imaging, I will characterize how MTCs influence each other based on tuning similarity. I hypothesize that recurrent motifs enhance similarity among similarly tuned MTCs and decorrelate dissimilar ones. In Aim 3 (R00) I will extend this survey to the cortex and determine how OB output is integrated by PCx and modulated by experience. I hypothesize that MTCs with similar odor tuning and timing preferentially converge onto shared PCx targets, and that this convergence is shaped by Hebbian-like learning. I will test this with two-photon imaging of glomerular odor tuning, optogenetic stimulation of targeted glomeruli and large-scale PCx recordings and examine how repeated odor experience modifies the structure of OB to PCx functional connectivity. This work will define how spatiotemporal odor codes are transformed from OB to PCx and how experience refines this transformation. The K99 phase will develop circuit mapping and all-optical methods (Aims 1–2); the R00 phase will expand my focus to PCx decoding and plasticity (Aim 3). These studies will provide fundamental mechanistic insight into sensory computation and provide me training in advanced techniques for recording and manipulating neural activity, as well as computational expertise. These research goals will be achieved by direct guidance from my mentors, Dr. Dmitry Rinberg and Dr. Gyorgy Buzsaki, my postdoctoral committee, as well as the collaborative environment at NYU. My training plan provides a detailed strategy to acquire technical, computational, and conceptual skills that are crucial for these proposed experiments. Importantly, these skills will also serve as the foundation of my independent laboratory, focusing on the transformation from sensory processing to behavior.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Abstract Many people with aphasia (PwA) lose contact with the majority of their friends in the months following the onset of this disorder. Losing friendships and the ensuing social isolation place a large number of PwA at risk for reduced well-being, depression, anxiety, physical health problems, increased levels of disability following medical crises, and premature death. Interventions which enable people with aphasia to stay connected to their friends will likely reduce the incidence of isolation and loneliness as well as the downstream negative effects of these states. As a first step towards creating social connectedness programming for PwA, we conducted a series of studies and consulted extensively with people impacted by aphasia. The outcome of this work is a prototype intervention called Aphasia: Nurturing Connection, Honoring Ongoing Relationships (ANCHOR). ANCHOR consists of three, hour long speech-language pathologist-facilitated sessions that people in the acute stage of aphasia rehabilitation complete with a friend. We have also created a digital platform that friends will access outside of these sessions to reinforce important program content. The program focuses on providing both the PwA and their friend with the knowledge, skills and motivations they need to keep communicating and to continue enjoying a mutually beneficial, satisfactory relationship with one another. The proposed study outlined here is a small scale, randomized trial. Aim 1 of this study is to gather preliminary efficacy data on ANCHOR. We will deliver ANCHOR to an immediate treatment group (n=20 PwA and friends) and a delayed treatment group (n=20 PwA and friends), and compare the pre-post effect size differences between these two groups. Two complimentary, psychometrically sound instruments, the Measure of Skill in Supportive Conversation (MSC) and the Measure of Participation in Conversation (MPC) will serve as outcome measures; the MSC evaluates how effectively a partner provides supports that enable the person with aphasia to express themselves and understand the partners’ speaking turns, while the MPC evaluates the person with aphasia's ability to convey information. Aim 2 of the study is to gather data on the feasibility and acceptability of the ANCHOR program. In pursuit of this aim, we will gather descriptive statistics on the number of people who pass study screening, how many dyads complete the ANCHOR program, the number of adverse incidents that occur and on metrics of treatment fidelity. Additionally, we will interview people with aphasia and friends who complete ANCHOR and solicit their feedback about the program The data we gather in pursuit of Aims 1 and 2 will be used to refine ANCHOR and to inform future, larger scale randomized controlled trials.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Project Summary/Abstract Successful speech perception requires that listeners map continuous changes in the acoustic signal into discrete phonetic units (categorize) while “tuning out” background noise. Listeners could use two opposing listening strategies to accomplish these tasks: a gradient/continuous strategy that linearly maps acoustics to perception and retains all signal details or a categorical/discrete strategy that warps acoustics into phonetic categories and discards perceptually irrelevant features. Theoretically, either strategy could benefit speech-in-noise (SIN) perception: gradient listening could offer flexibility for optimal cue-weighting in noise, whereas abstract phonetic categories formed by discrete listening could be more resilient to degradation. Combining behavioral tasks designed to evaluate listening strategy (phoneme labeling) with temporally sensitive electrophysiological measures (EEG) of brainstem and cortical function, this project will evaluate how the brain’s encoding of speech reflects gradient vs. discrete modes of hearing at the individual level, and in turn, might predict SIN abilities. Our innovative EEG paradigms include the simultaneous recording of frequency-following responses (FFRs) and event-related potentials (ERPs) to assess how different levels of the auditory system (brainstem + cortex) scale with perceptual abilities and reflect listening strategy between (Aim 1) and within (Aim 2) individuals. Our central hypothesis is that listening strategy is directly related to figure-ground perception and may account for substantial unrecognized variation in SIN outcomes, providing a fresh mechanistic view of degraded speech perception. The proposed predoctoral work will be pursued in a highly productive and interdisciplinary research environment at Indiana University in the Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (ACNL) under the primary mentorship of Dr. Gavin Bidelman. The ACNL specializes in auditory/speech perception, neurophysiology (brainstem and cortical EEG), and computational modeling. This environment is well-suited to the PI’s goals for training in brain imaging, advanced computational and statistical analysis of multichannel EEG data, and professional and career development. Primary training in human neuroimaging and auditory neuroscience will be complemented by interdisciplinary training in behavior and speech perception with Co-Sponsor Dr. Tessa Bent, a leading expert on indexical and cognitive factors in speech and individual differences in speech perception. In addition to these research experiences, the fellowship training plan includes opportunities for career development, incorporating milestones in scientific dissemination (conference presentations, publications), seminars and workshops in professional development (e.g., grantsmanship), and formal coursework to support the PI’s training in theoretical and empirical issues in auditory cognitive neuroscience. Collectively, this F31 will provide the PI with crucial tools and experience to propel her into a successful career in auditory neuroscience and becoming a tenure-track academic researcher.

NIDCD - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

PROJECT SUMMARY Over-the-counter hearing aids (OTC-HAs) have significant potential to increase the accessibility and affordabil- ity of hearing loss solutions for nearly 28 million U.S. adults. Despite hundreds of OTC-HA devices marketed to consumers, only 2% of people with hearing loss have purchased one as of 2023. One reason for the slow adoption of OTC-HAs may be the limited engagement and lack of collaboration with community pharmacists in OTC-HA device sales and hearing self-care practice models. As experts in OTC products and self-care, phar- macists are uniquely positioned to assist patients with OTC-HA devices when sold at the community phar- macy. The proposed OTC Hearing Aid and Hearing Self-Care Symposium, hosted by the University of Pitts- burgh, will continue the successful inaugural meeting in 2024 by bringing together thought leaders and practice innovators from pharmacy, audiology, public health, and OTC hearing aid device manufacturers to discuss how OTC hearing aids can increase patient access and utilization of hearing devices via hearing self-care. Our unique interprofessional approach aims to accelerate OTC-HA adoption and sustained use in the U.S. by syn- ergistically amplifying the importance of engaging pharmacists in the treatment of hearing loss.