Michael Heinz
Title:
Professor
PhD Granting Institution:
MIT
Contact:
Email Address: mheinz@purdue.edu
Office Phone: 765-496-6627
Lab Website Link: https://engineering.purdue.edu/HeinzLab
Primary Training Group:
Integrative Neuroscience
Secondary Training Groups:
Biotechnology, Computational and Systems Biology
Research Areas:
Neural correlates of normal and impaired auditory perception, noise-induced hearing loss, precision auditory neuroscience, models of auditory signal processing and perception
Current Projects:
Our Auditory Neurophysiology and Modeling Laboratory focuses on 1) quantifying the effects of various forms of SNHL on neural coding in single-unit auditory-nerve responses, and 2) non-invasive diagnostic and neural-coding characterizations of various forms of SNHL (e.g., OAEs, ABRs, MEMRs, ECochG, EFRs, EEG). We use a number of pre-clinical chinchilla models of SNHL. I also have experience with human psychoacoustics, EEG, and audiological diagnostics – from collaborations as well as from Directing our Audiology Research Diagnostics Core (ARDC) on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus and the new Accessible Precision Audiology Research Center (APARC) at the 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis. We have also been working with Prof. Ananth Grama in Computer Science at Purdue to develop frameworks for harmonizing cross-species data to facilitate using transportability analyses to develop powerful causal models to relate anatomical, physiological, and perceptual effects of SNHL towards advancements in precision auditory neuroscience/audiology.
Importance of Interdisciplinary Research:
Interdisciplinary research is critical to address the burdens of untreated hearing loss. We are synergizing Purdue’s strengths in audiology/auditory neuroscience and data analytics to collect, curate, and analyze comprehensive mechanistic-based audiological assessments at scale to support the development of accessible precision audiology. Our ultimate goal is unique auditory profiles for each patient to facilitate individualized counseling and treatments and as a lens on their overall health profile.