How Does Sound Work? The Neurophysiology of Listening
Biology Assistant Professor Nikolas Francis explores the sounds of neuroscience.
In his lab at the University of Maryland, Nikolas Francis, an assistant professor with joint appointments in the Department of Biology and the Brain and Behavior Institute (BBI), studies the neurophysiology of listening. As a scientist and a musician, Francis is interested in how the brain responds to sound.
“Specifically, we’re interested in how the brain allows us to focus our attention on sound, recognize a sound, and ultimately, react to sound,” Francis said.
Francis’ research combines data analysis with neuroimaging methods, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which reveals brain-wide activity, and laser-based neuroimaging, which focuses on the activity of individual neurons. Francis hopes his research can help identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of hearing disorders and advance our understanding of how we listen to sound.
