Research Focus

My primary research focuses on auditory sensation and cognition in older adulthood. The goal of this research is to understand how we engage in listening and communication as we age and why some people who are hard of hearing disengage from social, communication-mediated activities. We focus on how sounds are encoded in sensory systems, how cognitive processes support listening under challenges, and how sensation and cognition intact to shape listening experiences. The research aims to help develop better knowledge of the changes in neural circuits associated with aging and hearing loss that lead to adverse listening experiences and disengagement. We tackle these questions from different angles ranging from mechanistic neurophysiology to listening experiences in real social situations.

Select Publications

• Herrmann B, Maess B, Johnsrude IS. (2022). A neural signature of regularity in sound is reduced in older adults. Neurobiology of Aging, 109, 1-10.
• Herrmann B, Augereau T, Johnsrude IS. (2020). Neural responses and perceptual sensitivity to sound depend on sound-level statistics. Scientific Reports, 10, 9571.

View My Publications