Dr. Lee Miller

Profile Introduction

Auditory Neuroscience and Speech Recognition

Degrees

2001    PhD    (Bioengineering)    University of California San Francisco and Berkeley
1993    BS    (Physics)    Duke University
 

Research Contribution

Countless normal listeners have trouble understanding speech in noisy environments. Unfortunately, certain special populations have even greater difficulty, such as the learning-impaired, individuals with autism, and hearing-aid / cochlear-implant users. By far the most numerous are those with hearing loss, now numbering 30 million Americans and half a billion worldwide. Depression, loneliness, and social anxiety are common conditions afflicting those (particularly older adults) who suffer this reduced ability to communicate. Untreated hearing loss in the U.S. costs tens of billions of dollars annually. The human costs are immeasurable. Results from our research may lead to practical solutions such as: improved audiological diagnosis and targeting, improved hearing-device design (wearable aids and implants), better speech recovery after device fitting, improved training on listening strategies, and enhanced social integration among special populations. Our research is made possible by the generous support of the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Research Interests

Auditory Neuroscience and Speech Recognition.

We are dedicated to understanding the neural bases of auditory perception and speech recognition in human listeners. Our methods include non-invasive techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), high-density electroencephalography (EEG), and neural network analysis. We learn how different parts of the brain cooperate to achieve perception - especially in noisy environments - and what happens when comprehension fails.

Awards

1994 - Fulbright Fellowship - Philipps-Universitat, Marburg, Germany - Physics

Department and Center Affiliations

Section of Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior

Center for Mind & Brain

Center for Neuroscience

CBS Grad Group Affiliations

Neuroscience

Graduate Groups not Housed in CBS

Psychology