Research
Human development towards adulthood is associated with the improvement of cognitive and perceptual skills required to independently navigate complex social environments. Among these, is the ability to perceive speech signals in the presence of competing speakers. Speech-in-Noise (SiN) perception maturation seems to coincide with puberty onset hence suggesting that adolescence might correspond to a sensitive period for certain functions. However, adolescent’s developmental trajectory and the biological mechanisms underlying puberty-related structural and functional neuroplastic changes are not well understood. As part of the SensationHL project, my research focuses on how puberty-onset is associated with brain functional changes detected via high-density electroencephalography (EEG), and how such changes relate to cognitive and perceptual development. Moreover, I am interested in how such functional changes relate to structural brain connectivity, neurotransmitters, and hormonal levels.
