Understanding how the brain processes complex sounds like music and speech
Official title: CRCNS: Online optimization for probing high-level auditory representations
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11089381 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how the brains of marmosets react to different sounds, like animal calls and music, to help us understand how our brains process complex sounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $402,478 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021609-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089381 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals with an interest in auditory processing or those affected by hearing impairments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have auditory processing issues or are not interested in the mechanisms of sound perception may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the auditory cortex of marmosets responds to complex sounds, such as animal vocalizations and music. By using advanced techniques to record the activity of many neurons simultaneously, the researchers aim to uncover the neural coding mechanisms behind harmonic sounds. They will employ an innovative online adaptive stimulus optimization approach to design sound stimuli that effectively probe the brain's responses. This method allows for a more detailed understanding of how the brain interprets rich auditory information.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of auditory processing, potentially leading to improved treatments for hearing disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using computational models to study sensory processing, indicating that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Kechen — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Kechen
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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.