Kuchinsky, Stefanie
Assistant Research Scientist and Research Assistant Professor
Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science
8077 Greenmead Drive, College Park, MD 20742
Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL)
Email:
Phone:
301-226-8814
Website:
Themes and Tools:
General Research Interests:
- Speech perception and production
- Attention and effort
- Cognitive training
- Neural and physiological methods: eyetracking, pupillometry, functional and structural imaging
My research focuses on evaluating and improving speech and text comprehension in adverse conditions. For example, older adults with hearing loss are particularly challenged when listening to speech in background noise. Not only do they tend to recognize fewer words than normal-hearing, younger adults, but they also report greater listening effort and fatigue.
Using functional neuroimaging and pupillometry techniques, I investigate the sensory and attention systems that support language processing with the goal of developing effective interventions that optimize both comprehension and listening effort.
Background:
My primary appointments are as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL) and a Research Assistant Professor at the Maryland Neuroimaging Center (MNC). I completed my Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Illinois and postdoctoral training in the Hearing Research Program at the Medical University of South Carolina. Using neuroimaging and pupillometry techniques, I investigate the sensory and attention systems that support language understanding in adverse conditions. A primary focus of my work aims to mitigate the speech-recognition challenges faced by older adults with hearing loss through interventions that optimize both comprehension accuracy and cognitive effort.