How background noise affects the brain's ability to understand speech
Official title: The impact of noise on temporal integration of speech in the human brain
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-10995425 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our brains understand speech when there's background noise, and it's for anyone interested in how we hear and make sense of conversations in busy places.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $74,284 |
| NIH project number | 1F32DC022145-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10995425 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with normal hearing who experience challenges understanding speech in noisy settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with profound hearing loss or those who are unable to participate in EEG recordings may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the human brain integrates speech information in the presence of background noise. By using advanced techniques like scalp and intracranial EEG, the study aims to understand the varying timescales at which the brain processes speech under different auditory conditions. The researchers will employ a novel method called the temporal context invariance (TCI) paradigm to measure how background noise influences auditory processing. This could provide insights into the complexities of speech comprehension in real-world environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for enhancing speech understanding in noisy environments, benefiting individuals with hearing difficulties.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding auditory processing, but this approach using the TCI paradigm is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boebinger, Dana — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Boebinger, Dana
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.