Dr Joseph Sollini
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine
Hearing-loss starts with a loss of function in the ear, however, it’s impact spreads beyond the ear and to the brain. It leads to alterations in the wiring and function of not just the auditory brain but also the cognitive brain. Eventually these neural changes could lead to either auditory (e.g. Tinnitus or hyperacusis) or even cognitive (e.g. dementia) disorders. I lead a team that uses neuromodulatory techniques (electrical, opto/Chemogenetic stimulation), in animal models, to understand the neural mechanism of hearing-loss related changes in the brain. In addition to using these tools to understand the neural mechanisms of hearing dysfunction we are also currently developing techniques to reverse the neural consequences of hearing-loss.
N3Centre Research Interests
Understanding neural mechanisms
Current projects
Project title: Reversing the neural consequences of hearing-loss to restore hearing-in-noise sensitivity
Funding: £125k, Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award
Project title: Does the hippocampus support hearing in predictable background sounds?
Funding: £100k, Medical Research Foundation
Project title: Behavioural Measurement Of Inhibitory Deficits In People With Tinnitus
Funding: £85k, Silvia Whitby Fund