Human Neurophysiology Lab

The Human Neurophysiology Lab seeks to investigate speech (verbal and manual) and non-speech processing across the brain to understand underlying patterns of activity that may be linked to hearing, speech, and language disorders.

This focus is further centered on the influence of sex and sexuality on cortical activity, as many speech, language, and hearing disorders are more often diagnosed in males. Primarily, electrophysiological and behavioral measures are employed to investigate the nature of these sex- and sexuality-related differences.

The long-term goal of this lab is to extend the electrophysiological techniques to investigate other conditions, such as tinnitus and traumatic brain injury.

Facilities

The Human Neurophysiology Lab is equipped with multichannel systems for recording electrophysiological events across the cortex. All testing occurs in a sound-shielded booth equipped with monitors for visual stimuli and an earphone system for the presentation of auditory stimuli.

People

David Thornton is the laboratory director.

Selected Publications

• Thornton, D., Harkrider, A.W., Jenson, D., Saltuklaroglu, T. Sex differences in early sensorimotor speech processing for speech discrimination. Scientific Reports. In Review.
• Jenson, D., Reilly, K.J., Harkrider, A.W., Thornton, D., Saltuklaroglu, T. Trait-related sensorimotor deficits in people who stutter: An EEG investigation of μ rhythm dynamics during spontaneous fluency. Neuroimage Clin. 2018 May 21;19:690-702. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.05.026. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 29872634; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5986168.
• Saltuklaroglu, T., Harkrider, A.W., Thornton, D., Jenson, D., Kittilstved, T. EEG Mu (µ) rhythm spectra and oscillatory activity differentiate stuttering from non-stuttering adults. Neuroimage. 2017 Jun;153:232-245. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.04.022. Epub 2017 Apr 9. PubMed PMID: 28400266; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5569894.
• Thornton, D., Harkrider, A.W., Jenson, D., Saltuklaroglu T. Sensorimotor activity measured via oscillations of EEG mu rhythms in speech and non-speech discrimination tasks with and without segmentation demands. Brain Lang. 2017 Apr 18. pii: S0093-934X(16)30127-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2017.03.011. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28431691.
• Cuellar, M., Harkrider, A.W., Jenson, D., Thornton, D., Bowers, A., Saltuklaroglu, T. Time-frequency analysis of the EEG mu rhythm as a measure of sensorimotor integration in the later stages of swallowing. Clin Neurophysiol. 2016 Jul;127(7):2625-35. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.04.027. Epub 2016 May 5. PubMed PMID: 27291882.
• Jenson, D., Bowers, A.L., Harkrider, A.W., Thornton, D., Cuellar, M., Saltuklaroglu, T. Temporal dynamics of sensorimotor integration in speech perception and production: independent component analysis of EEG data. Front Psychol. 2014 Jul 10;5:656. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00656. eCollection 2014. PubMed PMID: 25071633; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4091311.