Our lab houses three research groups:
RHYTHM, LANGUAGE & GENETICS GROUP - directed by Reyna Gordon, PhD
Our Rhythm, Language & Genetics Group is an interdisciplinary team focused on exploring the role of rhythm in language development and disorders from behavioral, cognitive, neural, and genetic perspectives. Our research examines the relationship between rhythm and grammar skills in typical development and developmental language disorder, the neural mechanisms underlying rhythm and grammar skills, the genetics of language disorders, and how musical training can improve language skills.
MUSIC, SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT, & DEVELOPMENT GROUP - directed by Miriam Lense, PhD
Our Music, Social Engagement, & Development Group focuses on the relationships between music, rhythm, and social communication and engagement in individuals with and without developmental differences and their families. Research themes include the role of rhythm in social communication and interaction, parent-child musical engagement experiences and music-based approaches to positive parenting, modulation of emotion and arousal levels via musical experiences, and atypical sensory processing and musical engagement in individuals with developmental disorders, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Williams syndrome.
BEHAVIOR, HEALTH, SPEECH, AND HEARING GROUP - directed by Srishti Nayak, PhD
Our Behavior, Health, Speech, and Hearing (BHaSHa) Group uses a combination of computational (big data) and human participants (lab-based) approaches to investigate questions such as: which musicality-related factors are most relevant for hearing outcomes in aging? How can we leverage (neuro)biological connections between musicality and communication-related abilities to better understand conditions related to speech, language, and hearing? Can understanding individual differences in cognitive, musicality, or language skills help predict brain health and neurodegeneration?