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Cognitive Auditory Research Lab (CARL)
Focus of Lab
Our laboratory is interested in pursuing a better understanding human auditory information processing. A primary focus relates to auditory information processing associated with child language and cognition, as well as examining the difficulties some children experience with language and cognitive development. We use both physiological and behavioral measures to study information processing mechanisms that support language development, specifically sensory, attention, and memory mechanisms supporting auditory language processing. A second focus is a preliminary investigation of auditory information processing related to acquired neurogenic disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Current lab projects include studying hearing acuity and phonology in a group of school-age children with Williams syndrome (WS). WS is a neurodevelopmental disorder (a microdeletion of genes on chromosome 7) characterized by an uneven profile of language strengths and weaknesses. We have shown that contrary to popular, anecdotal reports, children with Williams syndrome do not have excellent auditory sensitivity; but in fact, are likely to have mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (approximately 70% of school-age children).
An outgrowth of this first study is the investigation of auditory acuity in another genetic condition, supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS). SVAS is due to a point mutation on chromosome 7. These studies provide a test of current hypotheses about possible correlations between auditory processing, auditory memory and language.
Personnel
- Dr. Jeffrey A. Marler, Director
- Jessica Roy, BA, Lab Manager, Graduate Research Assistant
- Samantha Canalakes, BA, Graduate Research Assistant
- Erin Hiner, BS, Graduate Research Assistant
- Kristin Kroll, BA, Graduate Research Assistant
- Jenna Irving, Undergraduate Research Assistant (CSD)
- Tessa Graham, Undergraduate Research Assistant (PSY)
Lab Photos
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Current Projects
National Institutes of Health, Child Health and Development 1 R01 HD055369-01 (2006, in review): “Peripheral auditory processing in Williams syndrome.” Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Cognitive Auditory Research Lab, Jeffrey Marler, PI.
National Institutes of Health, Child Health and Development R03 HD044468 (2003): “Auditory memory processing in Williams syndrome.” Jeffrey Marler, PI.
National Williams Syndrome Association (2005): “Auditory function in individuals with Williams syndrome and supravalvular aortic stenosis.” Jeffrey Marler, PI.
James Madison University, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Integrated Sciences and Technology (2005): “Histological and electrophysiological methods in mouse inner ear research.” Jeffrey Marler, Co-PI.
James Madison University, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Integrated Sciences and Technology (2005): “Communicative function in subtypes of Parkinson’s disease: An investigation of tremor dominant and akinetic-rigid dominant types.” Jeffrey Marler, Co-PI.
