Speech-evoked brain activity is more robust to competing speech when it is spoken by someone familiar

The representation of spoken-sentence information in specific regions of the brain is more resistant to interference by competing speech if the target talker is familiar. The posterior temporal cortex represents information about target speech more robustly in the presence of competing speech when the target talker is a friend or partner. We have also shown that the relative robustness of the representations for a familiar, compared to an unfamiliar, voice aligns with the intelligibility benefit that the listener gains from that familiar voice.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanresearchsummaries/1006/thumbnail.jp

Uncovering the neural basis of cognitive impairment following hearing loss: an all-optical electrophysiology approach

We have access to state-of-the-art equipment that will enable us to visualize specific neuron types in animal models. This is a new approach that combines several recent advances in the field of \u27optogenetics\u27, a technique that uses light to control neurons. This approach will allow us to explore how hearing loss induced by loud noise exposure leads to abnormal neural activity in areas of the brain that control learning, memory and higher cognitive function.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1030/thumbnail.jp

Diffusion MRI modelling of the cortex informed by macro- and myelo-architecture

The overall goal of this transformative program is to develop novel imaging and analysis techniques for evaluating cortical architecture, providing a means to characterize and quantify structural features that have been invisible to MRI until now.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1015/thumbnail.jp

Development of a novel pharmaceutical to prevent noise-induced hearing loss

To limit the damage caused by noise-induced oxidative stress, we intend to determine the most effective way to deliver a customized version of catalase to the vulnerable sensory hair cells in the cochlea. We will conduct experiments to explore how best to \u27package\u27 and deliver catalase to the subject.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1011/thumbnail.jp

Protecting against hemodialysis induced neuro-cognitive injury

Patients requiring dialysis for kidney failure have poorer survival rates than many kinds of cancer and they suffer very high rates of cardiovascular mortality. One of the near-universal symptoms of hemodialysis (HD), where a patient\u27s blood is filtered externally with a dialysis machine, is cognitive impairment. We have already demonstrated that cooling the washing fluid in the dialysis machine, known as dialysate, can help maintain blood pressure during dialysis and protect against further brain injury.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1020/thumbnail.jp

The impact of maternal immune activation on fetal brain development

We will be studying the contribution of two distinct immune cell subtypes to fetal brain development: the mother\u27s main immune cells present in the uterus (known as uterine natural killer cells), and the fetal brain\u27s main immune cells (fetal microglial cells).https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1017/thumbnail.jp

Assessing listening with engaging, real-world auditory signals

Our project will develop and evaluate a novel way (using functional imaging, fMRI, and electrophysiology, EEG) to assess this cognitive impact of hearing loss with engaging, real‐world auditory stimuli. We will try to assess listening effort in more realistic listening situations among healthy listeners, comparing detected effort in degraded and clear acoustic conditions. Using EEG, we will then develop measures that are sensitive to the cognitive demands imposed by degraded speech, using these features to assess hearing function with engaging narratives in natural listening conditions.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1025/thumbnail.jp

The impact of violent gaming on the brain as a function of individual differences in trait empathy

In this project, we will uncover any existing interaction between violent media and the capacity for empathic reactions (known as trait empathy) at a neural level, as the foundational milestone for the kind of large-scale study discussed above. The level of trait empathy varies by individual - we will explore whether exposure to violent media exacerbates the difficulties that those with low trait empathy already show in relating to the emotions of othershttps://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1021/thumbnail.jp

Familiar voices are more Intelligible, even if they are not recognized as familiar

This research has demonstrated that it’s easier to understand someone who is familiar to us (compared to someone unfamiliar) even if we can’t recognize them from their voice. As listeners, we focus on certain parts of speech sounds for specific purposes. For example, there may be some situations in which you can understand words spoken by your mother very well, better than you could understand a stranger in the same situation, even if you can’t tell that it’s your mother speaking.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanresearchsummaries/1001/thumbnail.jp

Single-photon calcium imaging for interrogating the circuitry of the frontoparietal cognitive control network

We will use miniscopes to detect activities in the frontal eye field, a brain region responsible for voluntary eye movements and perception and awareness in the field of vision. The detection of neuronal activity with calcium imaging can then be compared with the visual stimuli and eye movements expected. If successful, this project will show the feasibility of calcium imaging using miniscopes in this way and open the door for future work to expand our understanding of frontoparietal cortical circuits.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1006/thumbnail.jp