Our Research
Our aim is to understand the neural circuits of complex sensory-motor behaviors that underpin social communication, specifically, speech and dance, and to identify possible therapies for speech and motor disorders.
Neurobiology of speech
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Which are the neural pathways underlying speech production in humans?
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Which are the neural pathways that subserve speech learning in humans?
Neurobiology and genetics of dance
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Which are the neural pathways underlying dance?
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Are these pathways associated with the brain pathways that control speech?
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Are there signatures in our genomes associated with proficient dance performance?
Drug and arts-based interventions
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Can drug interventions -with a focus on oxytocin- address sensorimotor deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders?
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Can arts-based interventions (with a focus on dance and music) tap into sensorimotor deficits and related brain pathways in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease?
Approaches
We employ a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the neurobiology and underlying genetics of behaviors underlying social communication, such as speech and dance.
functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Electroencephalography
Genome Sequencing
