UW Department of Applied Mathematics

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Research Interests

I work with Prof. Eric Shea-Brown in the field of Mathematical Neuroscience.

I am particularly interested in the auditory system and am engaged in several research projects in collaboration with scientists in the Speech and Hearing Science Department, the Department of Otolaryngology, and the Bloedel Hearing Research Center to model neural response to cochlear implant stimulation and to quantify information processing in the auditory system.

For excellent introductions to mathematical neuroscience and modeling of the auditory system see:

  • Alla Borisyuk. Physiology and mathematical modeling of the auditory system. In: Tutorials in Mathematical Biosciences I. Mathematical Neurosciences, Lecture Notes in Mathematics, Vol. 1860, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 2005.
  • J. Keener and J. Sneyd, Mathematical Physiology. Springer, New York, 1998.

    • Current Research Projects:

  • Improving temporal processing in cochlear implant users is a key challenge for improving speech recognition, pitch perception, sound localization, and music appreciation in cochlear implant listeners. My research uses reduced models of spiking neurons to formulate information metrics that can be used to predict performance on psychophysical tests of temporal processing. This research is in collaboration with Dr. Jay Rubinstein.
  • Tripolar (TP) and Partial Tripolar (pTP) electrode configurations are experimental strategies for stimulating more spatially restricted populations of spiral ganglion nerve cells. Implementing such strategies should lead to increased spectral resolution in cochlear implant users. I work in collaboration with Prof. Julie Bierer and Dr. Steven Bierer to develop a computer model of cochlear implant stimulation. We use this model to study the TP and pTP configurations, channel interaction, and the effects of spiral ganglion dead regions with TP and pTP configurations.

    • Past Research Projects:

  • Finite difference model of fluid flow in the inner ear that captures the complicated three-dimensional geometry of the cochlea. This is work I did with Prof. Randy LeVeque to receive my MS degree in 2006.

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