Auditory Physiology Laboratory
The Auditory Physiology Laboratory, directed by Dr. Linda J. Hood, focuses on the physiology of and physiologic responses from the auditory system at cochlear, subcortical and cortical levels. Studies encompass several perspectives including normal and disordered auditory systems and hearing loss related to genetic mutations. Recent areas of research have focused on efferent system function in normal, developing and aging human auditory systems, and neural responses from the eighth nerve through the cortex in infants, children and adults. Research related to hereditary hearing loss involves characterization of auditory function in carriers of genetic mutations associated with recessively inherited deafness in order to understand the specific phenotypic characteristics of certain genotypes. Research related to auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms and functional characteristics in order to improve management and communication skills of these individuals.